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Service Notice

The Western Australian Herbarium’s collections management system and census were set to read-only mode on 1 October 2025. Taxonomic updates published since this time are not being reflected in Florabase, herbarium collections, or Western Australia’s taxonomic names census (Nomos). Conservation listings displayed on Florabase may also be out of date. Please refer to DBCA’s Threatened species and communities webpage for the most recent Threatened and Priority Flora List, noting that recent taxonomic updates are similarly not included. Our database migration is moving to a staging phase. We thank you for your patience as we ensure the integrity of our biodiversity data, develop new workflows, and train staff to use the new systems. Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.

The notice period started at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, 1 October 2025 +08:00 and will end at 12:00 pm on Friday, 1 January 2027 +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.