PORT PHILLIP BAY


Red Seaweed 

Gloiosaccion brownii

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Can be confused with Webervanbossea tasmanensis that only grows to 10 cm high, has a very short and narrow stalk, and has multiple secretory cells separate to the medulla compared with G. brownii. There are no records of W. tasmanensis in Port Phillip but it is within its expected distribution.

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:
Rhodophyta
Subphylum:
Eurhodophytina
Class:
Florideophyceae
Subclass:
Rhodymeniophycidae
Order:
Rhodymeniales
Family:
Rhodymeniaceae
Genus:
Gloiosaccion
Species:
brownii

General Description

Simple cylindrical (sausage-shaped) sac-like bladders with club-shaped or tapered tip, arising from holdfast. Bladders are filled with glue-like substance (mucilage). Holdfast simple disc. Dark red-brown to red-grey. Up to 16 cm long (thallus).

Biology

This species sometimes grows on other algae and seagrasses as an epiphyte.

Habitat

Subtidal rocky reefs, pier piles, calm to rough wave action, to depth of 22 m.

Reefs

Seagrass meadows

Distribution guide

New Zealand and Australia.

Species Group

Seaweeds and seagrasses › Red algae

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

16 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, Red Seaweed, Gloiosaccion brownii, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/11331

Text: creative commons cc by licence