Chaetomorpha coliformis (Mont.) Kütz.
Species algarum 380 (1849)
Conservation Code:
Not threatened
Naturalised Status: Native to Western Australia
Name Status:
Current
Scientific Description
John Huisman & Cheryl Parker,
Monday 20 June 2011
Habit and structure. Thallus light to deep green, erect, usually epiphytic (on Amphibolis, Heterozostera, Halopteris, Cladostephus, Ballia and other algae) with filaments single but often densely clustered on the host, forming spreading tufts commonly 10–40(–60) cm long. Filaments increasing in diameter upwards and becoming moniliform, arising from an elongate basal cell (1–)3–7 mm long, attached by a lobed, fimbriate holdfast but without descending rhizoids. Cells near base 0.5–1 mm in diameter and L/B (1–)2–3(–8); mid cells 1.5–2.5 mm in diameter and L/B 0.5–1(–1.5), 1.5–3(–4) in calmer water forms; upper cells 2–4(–5) mm in diameter and L/B 1–1.5(–2); mid and upper cells usually markedly constricted at cross walls, subspherical. Cells turgid when living, collapsing on drying; wall 4–8(–10) µm thick, chloroplasts fairly densely reticulate with numerous pyrenoids.
Reproduction. Generations isomorphic, the gametophyte producing bi-flagellate isogametes and the sporophytes quadriflagellate zoo(meio) spores, discharged through scattered pores.
Distribution. From Venus Bay, Eyre Peninsula, S. Aust., to Walkerville, Vic., and around Tas. New Zealand, South America.
Habitat. C. coliformis occurs on rough-water and moderate coasts, from just below low tide level to 3–4 m deep; it is often common in rock pools and occurs on rock and a variety of hosts.
[after Womersley, Mar. Benthic Fl. Southern Australia I: 171–172 (1984)]
