Halimeda macroloba Decaisne
Erect sea cactus
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Family:  Halimedaceae ()
Max. size: 
Environment:  epiphytic; marine; depth range 0 - 41 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific.
Diagnosis:  Thalli erect, bright green in colour when fresh and cream or greenish when dried, moderately calcified. Holdfast bulbous. Thallus with a compressed, rectangular to subcuneate basal segment, from which arise in a single plane 2 or more separate segments, altogether forming a somewhat folded, fan-shaped base. Segments of branches distinctly large and flat to compressed, 1 to 3 mm thick, commonly flabellate and occasionally quadrangular, the uppermargin entire, undulate or irregularly lobed; largest segment 2.2 cm high and 2.9 cm wide. Cortex consisting of 3 layers of utricles, outermost utricles easily separate upon decalcification; utricles polygonal in surface view, 30 to 60 μm broad and 79 to 136 μm long. Thallus (excluding holdfast) to about 12 cm in height; holdfast to 4.5 cm in length (Ref. 80758).
Biology:  Not utilized commercially, although research have shown that it is a source of growth regulators: auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin; also possesses antibacterial and antifungal properties (Ref. 80758).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 

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