PORT PHILLIP BAY


Red Seaweed 

Plocamium preissianum

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Very distinctive species due to a broad thallus and series of 3 branchlets.

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:
Plocamiales
Family:
Plocamiaceae
Genus:
Plocamium
Species:
preissianum

General Description

Irregular branching. Branchlets (ramuli) in a series of three arranged in an alternate pattern. Upper branchlets divide into lateral branches. Branchlets straight to inward curving serrate on outer margin. Pink to medium-red. Up to 50 cm long (thallus).

Habitat

Rough waters, to depth of 50 m.

Reefs

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

50 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, Plocamium preissianum, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Apr 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/12322

Text: creative commons cc by licence