New Marine Chlorophyta from Southern Australia 
H. B. S. WOMERSLEY 1 
The species described herein were collected 
during the making of a survey of the marine 
Chlorophyta of southern Australia (from 
southwest Western Australia to eastern Vic- 
toria, including Tasmania). An account of 
all the known species of this region will be 
published separately. The marine green algae 
of southern Australia are far from completely 
known. In addition to these new species, a 
number of others which are probably un- 
described are known to the writer, but ma- 
terial or knowledge of these is inadequate for 
publication. 
Certain of these new species are of interest 
in showing the occurrence of what are more 
typically tropical or subtropical genera in 
southern Australia where the algal flora has 
warm temperate affinities, which become cold 
temperate on Victorian and Tasmanian coasts. 
Two species each of Chlorodesmis and Clado- 
phoropsis , and Dasycladus densus are representa- 
tives of subtropical genera. 
Abbreviations of herbaria mentioned in the 
following text are as follows: University of 
Adelaide (AD), Melbourne National Herb- 
arium (MEL). 
Order SIPHONALES 
Family BRYOPSIDACEAE 
Bryopsis minor n. sp. 
Fig. 1 
Fronds to 2 cm. high, tufted, much branched 
on all sides with numerous primary and sec- 
ondary axes 150-350 /z thick, sometimes 
1 Department of Botany, University of Adelaide, 
South Australia. Manuscript received February 28, 
1955. 
naked near the base, attached by rhizoidal 
processes. Branchlets slender, almost linear, 
to 3 mm. long and 12-55 m wide, contracted 
at their base. Older axes without prominent 
branch scars. Chloroplasts numerous, round, 
4-7 m across, with a prominent central pyre- 
noid. 
Thallus ad 2 cm. altus, fasciculus, undique 
ramosi cum multibus primis et secondariis 
axibus, 150-350 /z diam. Ramuli tenues, fere 
lineares, ad 3 mm. long, et 12-55 /z diam., 
constricti ad basem. Chloroplasti multi, cir- 
culi, 4-7 ju diam., cum uno medio pyrenoido. 
type locality: On black buoy, American 
River inlet, Kangaroo Island, South Australia. 
type: AD (No. A 4124, H. B. S. Womers- 
ley, September 6, 1946). 
distribution: Known only from the type 
locality. 
Although the genus Bryopsis is in urgent 
need of monographic revision, based on 
liquid preserved material and cultural studies, 
B. minor is distinct from all known Australian 
species of Bryopsis , and appears to differ from 
extra- Australian species. The closest species 
in form is possibly B. monoica Funk (see 
Hamel 1931: 393) from the Mediterranean. 
Family CAULERPACEAE 
Caulerpa ellistoniae n. sp. 
Fig. 2 
Fronds to 25 cm. high. Surculus stout, 2-3 
mm. thick, smooth. Stems stout and naked 
below, irregularly branched. Axis of upper 
branches compressed, 1-2 mm. wide, bear- 
ing distichous rows of ramenta. Ramenta close 
together, compressed, 4-8 mm. long, about 
1 mm. wide, tapering to both base and apex, 
387 
