Codium
Encyclopedia
Codium is a genus
of seaweed
in the Chlorophyta
of the Order Bryopsidales
. There are about 50 species worldwide.
cortex of utricles. The non-erect species form either a prostrate or globular thallus with a velvet-like surface, the final branches forming a close cortex of utricles.
. Codium adhaerens has been recorded from a few sites on the west coast and from Tory Island
on the north coast in County Donegal
. In 1837 it was found in Church Bay in County Antrim
, but has not been found there since.
There are other species of "doubtful validity":- Codium amphibium is included in Harvey's Phycologia Britannica Pl.xxxv. and noted as: "spreading in patches of great extent along the edge of the sea, over the surface of a turf-bog which meets the shore at Roundstone Bay" (Ireland).
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of seaweed
Seaweed
Seaweed is a loose, colloquial term encompassing macroscopic, multicellular, benthic marine algae. The term includes some members of the red, brown and green algae...
in the Chlorophyta
Chlorophyta
Chlorophyta is a division of green algae, informally called chlorophytes. The name is used in two very different senses so that care is needed to determine the use by a particular author...
of the Order Bryopsidales
Bryopsidales
Bryopsidales is an order of green algae, in the class Bryopsidophyceae.-Characteristics:The thallus is filamentous and much branched and may be packed into a mass. It is coenocytic, having multi-nucleate cells consisting of cytoplasm contained within a cylindrical cell wall...
. There are about 50 species worldwide.
Description
The genus has thalli of two forms, either erect or prostrate. The erect plants are dichotomously branched to 40 cm long with branches forming a compact spongy structure, not calcareous. The final branches form a surface layer of close palisadePalisade cell
Palisade cells are cells found within the mesophyll in leaves of dicotyledonous plants. They contain chloroplasts, which convert the energy in light to chemical energy through photosynthesis. The cylindrical shape of palisade cells allows a large amount of light to be absorbed by the chloroplasts...
cortex of utricles. The non-erect species form either a prostrate or globular thallus with a velvet-like surface, the final branches forming a close cortex of utricles.
Ireland
Two of these species are very rare in IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Codium adhaerens has been recorded from a few sites on the west coast and from Tory Island
Tory Island
Toraigh is an inhabited island 14.5 km off the northwest coast of County Donegal, Ireland. It is also known in Irish as Oileán Thoraigh, Oileán Thoraí or Oileán Thúr Rí.-Language:The main spoken language on the island is Irish, but English is also understood...
on the north coast in County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
. In 1837 it was found in Church Bay in County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, but has not been found there since.
- Codium adhaerens, C.Agardh
- Codium bursa, (Linnaeus) C.Agardh; has been found in Mulroy Bay in County DonegalCounty DonegalCounty Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
in 1977 (specimen in the Ulster MuseumUlster MuseumThe Ulster Museum, located in the Botanic Gardens in Belfast, has around 8,000 square metres of public display space, featuring material from the collections of fine art and applied art, archaeology, ethnography, treasures from the Spanish Armada, local history, numismatics, industrial...
) and 1988. There is an old record of it from "near BelfastBelfastBelfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
" between 1793 and 1810. - Codium fragileCodium fragileCodium fragile, also known as Green sea fingers, Dead man's fingers, felty fingers, felt-alga, Green sponge and Green fleece is an invasive species of seaweed in the family Codiaceae....
, (Suringar) Hariot- Codium fragile, (Suringar) Hariot subsp. atlanticum, (A. Cotton) Silva
- Codium tomentosumCodium tomentosumCodium tomentosum is a species of green seaweed in the family Codiaceae. Its common names include velvet horn and spongeweed.-Description:...
, Stackhouse - Codium vermilara, (Olivi) Delle Chiaje
There are other species of "doubtful validity":- Codium amphibium is included in Harvey's Phycologia Britannica Pl.xxxv. and noted as: "spreading in patches of great extent along the edge of the sea, over the surface of a turf-bog which meets the shore at Roundstone Bay" (Ireland).
Codium world-wide
- Codium cuneatum S. & G. California (U.S.A.)
- Codium duthiae Silva Australia, Tasmania and South Africa.
- Codium extricatum Silva Cape Agulhas to southern Natal.
- Codium fragile (Suringar) Hariot, Sui song (ChineseStandard MandarinStandard Chinese or Modern Standard Chinese, also known as Mandarin or Putonghua, is the official language of the People's Republic of China and Republic of China , and is one of the four official languages of Singapore....
) Japan, American Pacific from Alaska to Cape Horn, Australia and New Zealand, British Isles, Norway, Denmark and Netherlands. - Codium fragile (Suringar) Hariot subsp. capense Silva South Africa.
- Codium fragile Nova Scotia (Canada)
- Codium hubbsii Daws. California (U.S.A.)
- Codium johnstonei Silva California (U.S.A.)
- Codium lucasi Setchell Australia, Tasmania.
- Codium geppiorum Australia and Indo-PacificSouth Africa.
- Codium spongiosum Australia.
- Codium setchellii Gardn. Califirnis (U.S.A.)
- Codium intertextum Collins & Hervey
- Codium isthmocladum Vickers
- Codium tayori Silva
- Codium repens (Crouan) Vickers