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Service Notice

The Western Australian Herbarium’s collections management system, WAHerb, and DBCA’s taxonomic names application, WACensus, have been set to read-only mode since 1 October 2025. Recent taxonomic changes are not reflected in Florabase, herbarium collections, or in the census. We are hoping to be able to reinstate services around December 15; we will provide an update at that time.

The notice period started at 9:00 am on Wednesday, 1 October 2025 +08:00 and will end at 12:00 pm on Monday, 15 December 2025 +08:00.

Halimeda opuntia (L.) J.V.Lamour.

Reference
Hist.Polyp.Corall. 308 (1816)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Native to Western Australia
Name Status
Current

Scientific Description

Habit and structure. Thallus sprawling, with both upright and lateral growth, forming attachments at numerous points (whenever in contact with the substratum), bright green (becoming pale when dried), spreading to 20 cm or more. Branching profuse, arising in more than one plane from successive segments. Segments variable in shape, flat or contorted, often ribbed, with upper margin entire or lobed, 7–12 mm broad x 5–7 mm long. Cortex up to 5 layers of utricles, outermost 10–45 µm in diameter. Nodal medullary filaments uniting in pairs, sometimes more.

Distribution. Common in the tropics worldwide.

Habitat. H. opuntia forms imbricating patches between coral. 

John Huisman & Cheryl Parker, 3 August 2021

Distribution

IBRA Regions
Dampierland, Northern Kimberley.
IBRA Subregions
Mitchell, Pindanland.
IMCRA Regions
Canning, Kimberley, Ningaloo.
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Broome, Derby-West Kimberley, Exmouth, Wyndham-East Kimberley.