Microsoft Word Enteromorpha linza doc

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* Descriptive names are inventions to aid identification, and are not commonly used 

“Algae Revealed” R N Baldock, S Australian State Herbarium, March 2009, additions October 2009 

50.470 

 

 

Techniques needed  

 

Classification 

Phylum: Chlorophyta; Order: Ulvales; Family: Ulvaceae 

 

*Descriptive name 

 

silky sea lettuce 

 

Features 

plants, green, broad paddle-shaped, 20-100mm tall with a silky surface, on a 

short stalk rapidly widening to a blade smooth or ruffled on edges

 

 

Special requirements 

view the surface of branches microscopically to find 

1.

 

cells angular, square or rectangular, relatively large (16-22μm long), in 

lines or in arcs around growing centres 

2.

 

chloroplasts containing a single bright body (pyrenoid) (2 if the cell is 

dividing) 

3.

 

 

cross sections show 2 cell layers separated by a narrow cavity only at the 

blade edge  

 

Occurrences 

S Australia and Port Phillip, Victoria; doubtfully from Tasmania and NSW

 

Usual Habitat 

on Tape grass, Posidonia, probably restricted to coasts with moderate wave

 

movement 

Similar Species 

the flat, blade form of Enteromorpha compressa, but cells are smaller and only in 

short lines in that species

 

Description in the Benthic Flora  Part I, pages 153, 155-157 

Details of Anatomy

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enteromorpha (Ulva) linza  

(Linnaeus) J Agardh 

Enteromorpha linza stained blue and viewed 

microscopically to show:- 

1.

 

cells in lines, some forming arcs around 

growing points (arrowed) (

A53344 slide 20780

) 

2.

 

a cross section showing the 2 cell layers of 

rectangular cells practically touching except at 

the very edge where a narrow cavity exists 

(arrowed) (

A53312 slide 7586

) 

3.

 

a surface view of cells showing the single 

bright spot (pyrenoid) in each chloroplast, 

enhanced by Nomarski interference technique 

(

A53344 slide 20780

) 

MACRO 

PLANT 

! 

Diagnosis can be difficult 

1. 

2. 

3. 

foliose 

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* Descriptive names are inventions to aid identification, and are not commonly used 

“Algae Revealed” R N Baldock, S Australian State Herbarium, March 2009, additions October 2009 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Specimens of Enteromorpha (Ulva) linza (Linnaeus) J Agardh, (short stalks arrowed) 

4.

 

on Posidonia, 1.5m deep, Rosetta Bay, Victor Harbor, S Australia (

A42719

) 

5.

 

0-1.0m deep, Port Phillip, Victoria (

A53344

) 

4. 

5.