PORT PHILLIP BAY


Green Seaweed 

Codium harveyi

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Similar to other species in the genus Codium and most reliably distinguished by microscopic examination of utricles.

Codium australicum: club-shaped, flat-topped utricles; branches forked multiple times.

Codium duthieae: club-shaped, thin-walled utricles; branches forked once, flattened at fork.

Codium fragile: cylindrical utricles tapering to apical point; branches forked multiple times.

Codium galeatum: helmet-shaped (galeate) top of utricles with thickened caps; branches forked multiple times.

Codium harveyi: short, flat utricles with thickened wall at the top; branches forked multiple times, tapered at tip.

Codium lucasii: cylindrical utricles, pinched near the top and with pitted end wall; unbranched.

Main information sources:
Womersley, H.B.S., (1984-2003). The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia. Part 1-3d. Govt. Printer, South Australia.
Baldock, R.N. 2010. Algae Revealed. South Australian State Herbarium. Website.
AlgaeBase. Website.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chlorophyta
Class:
Ulvophyceae
Order:
Bryopsidales
Family:
Codiaceae
Genus:
Codium
Species:
harveyi

General Description

Thick algae with multiple cylindrical branches frequently divided in an even (forked) pattern on one plane tapering at branch tips. Utricles (bud-like structure on branches) are short and squat with flat to rounded tips. Medium green. Up to 30 cm long (thallus).

Biology

Like all Codium species, this seaweed is composed of only a single cell and can repair itself if damaged. It appears fluffy underwater and feels velvet-like out of water due to hundreds of tiny hair-like filaments on its surface.

Habitat

Low tide level to subtidal rocky reefs, in moderate waters, to depth of 30 m.

Reefs

Coastal shores

Distribution guide

Indonesia, New Zealand and Australia.

Species Group

Seaweeds and seagrasses › Green algae

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

30 cm

Diet

Photosynthetic - sunlight

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Identify

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Pocklington, Jacqui

Jacqui Pocklington is a Research Associate with expertise in algal taxonomy.

citation

Cite this page as:
Pocklington, Jacqui, 2011, Green Seaweed, Codium harveyi, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 27 Jul 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/11295

Text: creative commons cc by licence