Codium taylorii P.C.Silva

Scientific Description

Habit and structure. Thallus composed of 1–several erect fronds arising from a crustose base; fronds to 15 cm tall, divaricately dichotomously branched to 7 (–9) orders, the 2 branches of a dichotomy at times not equally developed and the branching thus appearing cervicorn. Branches usually flattened throughout or at least at dichotomies, (3–) 4–8 (–25) mm wide, 3–4 mm thick, with obtuse tips. Utricles produced by enlargement of interutricular filaments, cylindrical or clavate, slender, (550–) 650–1150 (–1450) µm long, (66–) 110–260 (–380) µm diam., (2.5–) 3.5–7.5 (–9) times longer than broad, with slightly rounded or subtruncate apices. Utricular wall 2.0–2.5 µm thick, slightly to moderately thickened (to 23 µm) at the apices; thickened apices lamellate. Hairs (or hair scars) abundant, 2–several per utricle in a zone 50–105 µm below the apex. Medullary filaments mostly 15–35 µm diam. Gametangia slender, ellipsoidal or cylindrical, 200–300 (–350) µm long, 45–85 µm diam., 1 or 2 per utricle, each borne on a short pedicel (c. 8 µm long) on a slight protuberance 275–430 µm below the apex of the utricle.

Distribution. Widespread in tropical seas.

[After Silva & Chacana, Algae of Australia: Mar. Benthic Algae of North-western Australia, 1. Green and Brown Algae 112-113 (2015)]