The marine species of Cladophora (Chlorophyta) from the South ...

Fig. 12. Cladophora sp. (KZN 2098). A. Main filaments and terminal branch-systems, scale bar =
1000 µm; B. Main filaments with young laterals, scale bar = 500 µm.
9. Cladophora sp. Fig. 12
Description:
Thallus light green, forming 1.5 cm high, penicillate, densely branched tufts.
Branching system organized acropetally. Growth mainly by apical cell division, each
4 th or 5 th cell below the apical cell giving off one lateral at its apical pole; at increasing
distance from the apex a cell may give off a second and sometimes a third branch.
Branches inserted at the apical cell pole with an almost horizontal cross wall, cutting
it off from the parent cell. Angle of ramification ranging from 20°-40° in the basal
branches to 5°-30° in the terminal branch-system. Apical cells tapering, with obtuse
tip, diameter 80-95 (-125) µm, l/w ratio 10-16. Cells of the terminal branch-systems
75-110 µm in diameter, l/w ratio 9-15. Cells of the basal branches 100-300 µm in
diameter, l/w ratio 5-10. The basal cell has been detached when collected.
Ecology: Epilithic, subtidal (at -12 m).
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