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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 Conservation listings displayed on Florabase may also be out of date.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.

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Ceramium vagans P.C.Silva

Reference
Smithsonian Contr.Mar.Sci. 27:56 (1987)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Native to Western Australia
Name Status
Current

Scientific Description

Habit and structure. Thallus with a prostrate system attached by rhizoids arising from nodal cells, with 1–3 rhizoids per node, these with multicellular digitate pads. Erect axes simple or sparingly subdichotomously branched, to 2–3 mm tall, with straight or slightly curved apices. Occasional adventitious branches present, these slightly thinner at the junction with the bearing branch; nodal cortication near apices and in lesser branches 70–90 µm in diameter, in mature axes to 150 µm in diameter and occasionally extending to cover the axial cells. Structure of nodes with 6 or 7 periaxial cells, forming paired acropetal and basipetal cells, these dividing further and eventually covering the periaxial cells. Mature nodal bands cupulate, with 6–10 cells layer, but these not regularly aligned; gland cells occasionally present. Acropetal margin of nodal bands with a ragged edge, whereas the basipetal edge is smooth.

Reproduction. Tetrasporangia arising acropetally in whorls of 6 or 7 on successive distal nodes of erect axes, 35–45 µm long, 30–35 µm in diameter, cruciately divided, with involucral filaments covering the majority of the sporangium, the entire structure forming a stichidium-like head. Other reproduction not observed.

Distribution. Widespread in the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans and the Caribbean; previously known from eastern Australia but newly recorded for W. Aust. In north-western Australia known from Scott Reef and the Maret Is., but probably often overlooked.