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List of seaweeds and marine flowering plants of Australia (temperate waters) facts for kids

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The seaweeds and marine flowering plants of Australia's temperate waters are amazing underwater plants and algae found in the cooler parts of the ocean around Australia. This list helps us learn about the different kinds of marine life that grow from Perth, Western Australia all the way to New South Wales. Some tropical species that also live in these areas are included too.

Brown Seaweeds (Phylum Ochrophyta)

Brown seaweeds are a type of algae that can be tiny or grow into huge underwater forests. They get their brown color from special pigments.

Whip-like Brown Seaweeds

These seaweeds often look like long strings or ropes.

  • Brown spaghetti weed Cladosiphon filum is found from Safety Bay, Western Australia, to Nowra, New South Wales, and all around Tasmania. It also grows in many other places worldwide.
  • Neptune's fingers Splachnidium rugosum looks like bumpy fingers. You can find it from Point Sinclair, South Australia, to Sydney, New South Wales, and around Tasmania. It's also in South Africa and New Zealand.
  • Twisted filament weed Halopteris paniculata grows from Port Willunga, South Australia, to Newcastle, New South Wales, and around Tasmania. It's also found in New Zealand and Chile.
  • Bushy brown alga Cladostephus spongiosus is a bushy plant found from Yanchep, Western Australia, to Keppel Bay, Queensland, and around Tasmania. It's common in many parts of the world.

Fan and Fork-shaped Brown Seaweeds

Many brown seaweeds have flat, fan-like or branching fork-like shapes.

  • Brown forkweed Dictyota dichotoma grows all around Australia, including Tasmania, and is found worldwide.
  • Hairy forkweed Glossophora nigricans lives from Dongara, Western Australia, to Walkerville, Victoria, and around Tasmania.
  • Crinkleweed Dilophus marginatus is found from Port Stanvac, South Australia, to Noosa, Queensland, and northern Tasmania.
  • Elegant padina Padina elegans is a beautiful fan-shaped seaweed from Dongara, Western Australia, to Pearson Island, South Australia.
  • Thin-leaf fanweed Zonaria angustata grows from Elliston, South Australia, to Eden, New South Wales, and around Tasmania.
  • Peacockweed Lobophora variegata is found all around Australia and in many other places globally.
  • Banded fanweed Stypopodium flabelliforme grows in tropical Australia, extending south to Rottnest Island, Western Australia, and Jervis Bay, New South Wales. It's also common in the Indo-West Pacific.

Kelp and Large Brown Seaweeds

These are some of the biggest brown seaweeds, forming underwater forests.

  • Strapweed Lessonia corrugata is found near Phillip Island, Victoria, and around Tasmania.
  • Giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera is a huge seaweed found in eastern, southern, and western Tasmania. It also grows in New Zealand, South America, and North America.
  • Northern giant kelp Macrocystis angustifolia grows from Cape Jaffa, South Australia, to Walkerville, Victoria, and northern Tasmania. It's also found in South Africa.
  • Common kelp Ecklonia radiata is very common, found from Kalbarri, Western Australia, to Caloundra, Queensland, and all around Tasmania.
  • Japanese kelp Undaria pinnatifida is an introduced species found in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, and parts of Tasmania. It originally comes from Japan and China.
  • Bull kelp Durvillaea potatorum is a tough, leathery seaweed found from Cape Jaffa, South Australia, to Bermagui, New South Wales, and western, southern, and eastern Tasmania.

Other Interesting Brown Seaweeds

  • Neptune's necklace Hormosira banksii looks like a string of beads. It's found from Albany, Western Australia, to Arrawarra, New South Wales, and around Tasmania. It also grows in New Zealand.
  • Crayweed Phyllospora comosa is an important seaweed found from Robe, South Australia, to Port Macquarie, New South Wales, and around Tasmania.
  • Three-node seaweed Cystoseira trinodis grows in tropical Australia, extending south to Victor Harbor, South Australia, and Lake Conjola, New South Wales, and also in Dunalley, Tasmania. It's found in many places overseas.
  • Grape cystophora Cystophora botryocystis has grape-like structures. It's found from Perth, Western Australia, to Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, and northern Tasmania.
  • Narrow grapeweed Caulocystis cephalornithos grows from Cape Naturaliste, Western Australia, to Sydney, New South Wales, and around Tasmania.
  • Bushy tangleweed Acrocarpia paniculata is found from Ceduna, South Australia, to Port Stephens, New South Wales, and around Tasmania. It also grows on Lord Howe Island.
  • Common sargassum Sargassum verruculosum is a common type of seaweed found from Cape Leeuwin, Western Australia, to Sydney, New South Wales, and around Tasmania. It's also in New Zealand.

Red Seaweeds (Phylum Rhodophyta)

Red seaweeds are another large group of algae, known for their beautiful red, pink, or purple colors. They can be delicate and feathery or tough and crusty.

Flat and Leafy Red Seaweeds

  • Lucas’ laver Porphyra lucasii is a thin, flat seaweed found from Cottesloe, Western Australia, to Sydney, New South Wales, and around Tasmania.
  • Red seafan Sonderopelta coriacea is a fan-shaped red seaweed found from Ceduna, South Australia, to Walkerville, Victoria, and around Tasmania. It's also in New Zealand.
  • Floral red alga Halymenia floresia grows around the Australian mainland and is widespread overseas.
  • Red leatherstraps Gelinaria ulvoidea is found from Houtman Abrolhos, Western Australia, to Walkerville, Victoria, and northern Tasmania.
  • Pitted red lettuce Kallymenia cribrosa grows from Houtman Abrolhos, Western Australia, to Flinders, Victoria, and around Tasmania.
  • Notched red lettuce Hennedya crispa is found from Geraldton, Western Australia, to Pearson Island, South Australia.
  • Ruffled red seaweed Hemineura frondosa grows from Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia, to Gabo Island, Victoria, and around Tasmania.
  • Red sealeaf Halicnide similans is found from Safety Bay, Western Australia, to Point Hicks, Victoria, and around Tasmania.

Branching and Filamentous Red Seaweeds

  • Agarweed Pterocladia lucida is a branching red seaweed found from Kalbarri, Western Australia, to Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, and around Tasmania. It's also on Lord Howe Island and in New Zealand.
  • Jellyweed Betaphycus speciosum is a soft, jelly-like seaweed found from Dampier to Perth, Western Australia.
  • Common plocamium Plocamium angustum is a common branching red seaweed found from Ceduna, South Australia, to The Entrance, New South Wales, and around Tasmania. It's also on Lord Howe Island.
  • Armed asparagusweed Asparogopsis armata is a feathery red seaweed found from Perth, Western Australia, to Port Stephens, New South Wales, and around Tasmania. It's also in New Zealand and Europe.
  • Beautiful red forkweed Delisea pulchra grows from Perth, Western Australia, to Ballina, New South Wales, and around Tasmania. It's also in New Zealand.
  • Whip-like gracilaria Gracilaria flagelliformis is a thin, whip-like seaweed found from Geraldton to Geographe Bay, Western Australia.
  • Leathery forkweed Melanthalia obtusata is a tough, branching seaweed found from Kangaroo Island, South Australia, to Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, and around Tasmania.
  • Red grapeweed Botryocladia sonderi has grape-like clusters. It's found from Dongara, Western Australia, to Waratah Bay, Victoria, and northern Tasmania.
  • Beautiful ceramium Ceramium excellens is a delicate red seaweed found from the Great Australian Bight, South Australia, to Western Port, Victoria, and around Tasmania.
  • Red seabubbles Griffithsia monilis looks like tiny red bubbles. It's found from Fremantle, Western Australia, to Redcliff, Queensland, and around Tasmania.
  • Tufted red seaweed Ballia callitricha is a tufted plant found from Nuyts Reef, South Australia, to Green Cape, New South Wales, and around Tasmania. It's also in New Zealand and South America.
  • Pink dasya Dasya extensa is a soft, pink, branching seaweed found from Dongara, Western Australia, to Walkerville, Victoria, and northern Tasmania.
  • Bushy laurencia Laurencia majuscula is found all around the Australian mainland and Tasmania, and is widespread in the Indo-West Pacific.

Coralline Algae

These red algae are hard and look like coral because they contain calcium carbonate.

  • Flat-branched coralline Amphiroa anceps grows around the Australian mainland and south to Bicheno, Tasmania.
  • Tufted coralline Corallina officinalis is found all around Australia and Tasmania, and is widespread globally.
  • Rosy coralline Haliptilon roseum is a pink, branching coralline found from Shark Bay, Western Australia, to Bowen, Queensland, and around Tasmania. It's also on Lord Howe Island and in New Zealand.
  • Seagrass coralline Metagoniolithon stelliferum grows from Shark Bay, Western Australia, to Wilsons Promontory, Victoria, and northern Tasmania.
  • Button coralline Synarthrophyton patena is a flat, button-shaped coralline found from Rottnest Island, Western Australia, to Sydney, New South Wales, and around Tasmania. It's also in New Zealand and South Africa.

Green Seaweeds (Phylum Chlorophyta)

Green seaweeds are often bright green and can look like lettuce, fine filaments, or even bubbles.

Leafy and Filamentous Green Seaweeds

  • Ruffled sea lettuce Ulva taeniata is a common flat, green seaweed found from Elliston, South Australia, to Walkerville, Victoria, and around Tasmania. It's also in New Zealand and the USA.
  • Baitweed Ulva compressa is found all around Australia and is widespread globally.
  • Mermaid's necklace Chaetomorpha coliformis looks like a string of green beads. It's found from Venus Bay, South Australia, to Walkerville, Victoria, and around Tasmania. It's also in New Zealand and South America.
  • Green brushweed Apjohnia laetevirens grows from Green Head, Western Australia, to Collaroy, New South Wales, and northern Tasmania.

Sponge-like and Fan-shaped Green Seaweeds

  • Bubble codium Codium ?megalophysum is a sponge-like green seaweed found near Busselton, Western Australia, and also in South Africa.
  • Sea apple Codium pomoides looks like a green apple. It's found from Esperance, Western Australia, to Walkerville, Victoria, and around Tasmania.
  • Green spongeweed Codium spongiosum grows from Albany, Western Australia, to Merimbula, New South Wales. It's also on Lord Howe Island and widespread overseas.
  • Green necklaceweed Halimeda cuneata is a segmented, calcified green seaweed found in tropical Australia, extending to Recherche Archipelago, Western Australia. It's also in southern Africa.
  • Neptune's shaving brush Penicillus nodulosus looks like a small shaving brush. It's found in tropical Australia, extending south to Rottnest Island, Western Australia, and is widespread in the Indo-West Pacific.
  • Green seafan Avrainvillea clavatiramea is a fan-shaped green seaweed found from Rottnest Island, Western Australia, to Port Phillip, Victoria.

Branching Green Seaweeds (Caulerpa)

Caulerpa species are known for their diverse and often fern-like or grape-like shapes.

  • Serrated caulerpa Caulerpa scalpelliformis has serrated edges. It's found from Whitford Beach, Western Australia, to Jervis Bay, New South Wales, and around Tasmania.
  • Invasive caulerpa Caulerpa taxifolia is a species that has spread to many places, including estuaries in New South Wales and the Adelaide region. It's originally from tropical Australia.
  • Fishbone caulerpa Caulerpa distichophylla looks like a fishbone. It's found from Dongara to Albany, Western Australia.
  • Bubble caulerpa Caulerpa geminata has small, round bubbles. It's found from Dongara, Western Australia, to Bowen, Queensland, and around Tasmania. It's also in New Zealand.
  • Tropical caulerpa Caulerpa racemosa is common in tropical Australia, extending south to Albany, Western Australia, and northern New South Wales. It's widespread globally.

Other Green Algae

  • Mermaid's cup Acetabularia calyculus looks like a tiny umbrella or cup. It's found in tropical Australia, extending south to Adelaide, South Australia, and to Newcastle, New South Wales. It's also widespread overseas.
  • Green eyeballs Derbesia marina looks like small green spheres. It's found from Scott Bay, South Australia, to Sorrento, Victoria, and southeastern Tasmania. It's also widespread globally.

Marine Flowering Plants (Phylum Magnoliophyta)

These are true plants that live in the ocean, unlike seaweeds which are algae. They have roots, stems, and can flower and produce seeds.

Seagrasses

Seagrasses form important underwater meadows that provide food and shelter for many marine animals.

  • Southern paddlegrass Halophila australis is found from Dongara, Western Australia, to Sydney, New South Wales, and around Tasmania.
  • Oval paddlegrass Halophila ovalis has oval-shaped leaves. It's found in tropical Australia, extending south to Cowaramup Bay, Western Australia, and to Twofold Bay, New South Wales. It's widespread in the Indo-West Pacific.
  • Southern strapweed Posidonia australis has long, strap-like leaves. It's found from Shark Bay, Western Australia, to Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, and along the northern coast of Tasmania.
  • Fibrous strapweed Posidonia angustifolia grows from Houtman Abrolhos, Western Australia, to Port MacDonnell, South Australia, and northern Tasmania.
  • Sea nymph Amphibolis antarctica is found from Carnarvon, Western Australia, to Wilsons Promontory, Victoria, and south to Maria Island, Tasmania.
  • Tasmanian eelgrass Heterozostera tasmanica is found from Younghusband Peninsula, South Australia, to Wilsons Promontory, Victoria, and around Tasmania.
  • Mueller's eelgrass Zostera muelleri grows from Perth, Western Australia, to southern Queensland and around Tasmania. It's also in New Zealand.

Mangroves

Mangroves are trees or shrubs that grow in salty coastal waters, often in estuaries.

  • Grey mangrove Avicennia marina is found all around mainland Australia and on Lord Howe Island.
  • River mangrove Aegiceras corniculatum grows in tropical Australia, extending south to Shark Bay, Western Australia, and to Merimbula, New South Wales. It's also on Lord Howe Island.

Saltmarsh Plants

Saltmarsh plants grow in coastal wetlands, often flooded by tides.

Geographical Locations

Here are some of the places mentioned where these amazing marine plants and seaweeds can be found:

See also

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List of seaweeds and marine flowering plants of Australia (temperate waters) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.