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Cladurus alterniferus Huisman

Reference
Algae of Australia: Marine Benthic Algae of North-western Australia, 2. Red Algae 500, Fig. 145A-C (2018)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Native to Western Australia
Name Status
Current

Scientific Description

Habit and structure. Thallus erect, dark brown-red, to 14 cm tall, with 1 or 2 percurrent axes arising from a discoid holdfast, radially branched every 2–5 mm (but appearing distichous in pressed specimens) and often with axillary branches. Axes terete; primary axes cartilaginous below, 2–3 mm diam., tapering only slightly; lateral branches 1–2 mm diam., each order of branching progressively narrower, with distinct constrictions at bases, slightly curved upwards; apices rounded or tapering to a fine point, with obvious trichoblasts. Axes in surface view appearing tiered due to very large pericentral cells and the relatively thin cortex. Structure polysiphonous, with 5 large pericentrals, these prominent throughout the thallus, covered by a cortex of markedly smaller cells.

Reproduction. Reproduction not observed.

Distribution. Known from Barrow Island and the Dampier Archipelago, north-western Australia.

Habitat. Epilithic in the subtidal.

[After J.M. Huisman in Algae of Australia: Marine Benthic Algae of North-western Australia, 2. Red Algae: 500 (2018)]

John Huisman & Olga Nazarova, 3 August 2021

Distribution

IMCRA Regions
Pilbara (nearshore), Pilbara (offshore).
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Ashburton, Karratha.