| Family: |
Halimedaceae () |
| Max. size: |
|
| Environment: |
epiphytic; marine; depth range 0 - 41 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific. |
| Diagnosis: |
Thalli erect, bright green in colour when fresh and cream or greenish when dried, moderately calcified. Holdfast bulbous. Thallus with a compressed, rectangular to subcuneate basal segment, from which arise in a single plane 2 or more separate segments, altogether forming a somewhat folded, fan-shaped base. Segments of branches distinctly large and flat to compressed, 1 to 3 mm thick, commonly flabellate and occasionally quadrangular, the uppermargin entire, undulate or irregularly lobed; largest segment 2.2 cm high and 2.9 cm wide. Cortex consisting of 3 layers of utricles, outermost utricles easily separate upon decalcification; utricles polygonal in surface view, 30 to 60 μm broad and 79 to 136 μm long. Thallus (excluding holdfast) to about 12 cm in height; holdfast to 4.5 cm in length (Ref. 80758). |
| Biology: |
Not utilized commercially, although research have shown that it is a source of growth regulators: auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin; also possesses antibacterial and antifungal properties (Ref. 80758). Occurs on sand flats or in shallow water, usually in close association with seagrasses and other large macroalgae (Ref. 80758). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
| Country info: |
|
Source and more info: www.sealifebase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.