Codium pomoides

<strong>Codium</strong> <strong>pomoides</strong> J Agardh50.620Techniques neededClassification*Descriptive nameFeaturesSpecial requirementsOccurrencesUsual HabitatSimilar SpeciesPhylum: Chlorophyta; Order: Bryopsidales; Family: Codiaceae§ sea appleMACROPLANTplants dark green (-black), ball-shaped, to 120mm in diameter, tough andrubbery, hollow when old. Outer flask shaped structures (utricles) not visible tothe unaided eyeshave off or tease out a few of the microscopic, flask-shaped outer structures(utricles) and view them under the microscope. Utricles are tightly packed, 1-3mmlong and 90-125m in diameter, club-shaped, slightly constricted near the top, endwall thick with a unique internal extension (umbo), paired threads basally withinternal constriction (plug)southern W Australia to Victoria and Tasmaniaon rock at low water level in shaded sites to 20m deep on rough water coasts<strong>Codium</strong> mamillosum but this is yellow green, and individual utricles can be seenwith the unaided eye, also <strong>Codium</strong> perrinae but this species is usually lobed.Microscopic investigation of the utricles is needed to confirm the species.Superficially like the dark green colonies of blue-green bacteria, Rivularia firma.Description in the Benthic Flora Part I, pages 232-233Details of AnatomyumscPreserved (bleached) specimens of <strong>Codium</strong> <strong>pomoides</strong> (A19380) viewed microscopically1. utricle tips from a shaving of the plant surface highlighting the thickened end wall and slight constriction near the tip2. utricle top showing thickened end wall with internal extension (umbo, um ) and surface wall scars (sc ), hairs absent* Descriptive names are inventions to aid identification, and are not commonly used§ name used in Edgar, G. Australian Marine Life, 2nd Ed. (2008)“Algae Revealed” R N Baldock, S Australian State Herbarium, July 2003

<strong>Codium</strong> <strong>pomoides</strong> J. Agardh, (A35180) from Carpenter Rocks, S. Australia* Descriptive names are inventions to aid identification, and are not commonly used§ name used in Edgar, G. Australian Marine Life, 2nd Ed. (2008)“Algae Revealed” R N Baldock, S Australian State Herbarium, July 2003