Codium fragile subsp. tomentosoides (Van Goor) P.C.Silva 1955

Publication Details
Codium fragile subsp. tomentosoides (Van Goor) P.C.Silva 1955: 567

Published in: Silva, P.C. (1955). The dichotomous species of Codium in Britain. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 34: 565-577, 5 figs, 1 plate.

Request PDF

Type Species
The type species (holotype) of the genus Codium is Codium tomentosum Stackhouse.

Status of Name
This name is currently regarded as a synonym of Codium fragile subsp. fragile (Suringar) Hariot.

Source of Synonymy
Brodie, J., Maggs, C.A. & John, D.M. (2007). Green seaweeds of Britain and Ireland. pp. [i-v], vi-xii, 1-242, 101 figs. London: British Phycological Society.

Basionym
Codium mucronatum var. tomentosoides Van Goor

Type Information
Neotype locality: "Huisduinen, Netherlands, 1900, Mrs J. L. Redeke-Hoek (specimen not located). In the absence of the holotype, I have selected as neotype a specimen from Helder, Netherlands, annotated by van Goor, in the possession of Prof. J. Heimans, Hugo de Vries Laboratorium, Amsterdam."; (Silva 1955: 568)

Origin of Species Name
Adjective (Latin), fragile (Stearn 1983).

General Environment
This is a marine species.

Created: 31 March 1996 by M.D. Guiry.

Last updated: 24 April 2018

Verification of Data
Users are responsible for verifying the accuracy of information before use, as noted on the website Content page.

Unspecified note
Kusakina et al. (2006: 8) note that three morphologically and molecularly distinct groups of Codium fragile are currently present in Maritime Canada, suggesting at least three independent introductions. They also note that the Atlantic Coast group consists of ssp. tomentosoides that probably originated from the United States. - (28 August 2006) - G.M. Guiry

Taxonomic note
Two supposedly introduced subspecies have been recognised in Britain and Ireland since Silva's (1955) study, viz, Codium fragile subsp. atlanticum (A.D. Cotton) P.C. Silva and C. fragile subsp. tomentosoides (van Goor) P.C. Silva. However, Maggs (in Brodie, Maggs & John 2007: 194) and Provan et al. (2008) have shown that the first is probably native, and the second, whilst introduced and invasive, is synonymous with C. fragile subsp. fragile. The degree of both genotypic variation reported (small) and phenotypic variation described (large) makes the described subspecies and varieties unsustainable and it would be better to recognise one variable species for all practical purposes. - (29 December 2007) - G.M. Guiry

Distributional notes
Silva (1979: 345) notes: "This alga, which is a weed in the sociological sense of a plant that grows rankly in unwanted places, has been introduced into San Francisco Bay within the last few years by some yet undetermined means... Although this subspecies was original described from the Netherlands (as an introduced plant), its original home probably is Japan (type locality for C. fragile), where it forms an undetectable part of the morphological and physiological spectrum encompassed by the highly variable parental species. ... Its weediness is due to its broad physiological tolerance and unusually great reproductive capacity. Wherever this weed has been studied, the populations have been shown to be solely female, with the female gametes capable of parthenogenic development. It thus comprises a single clone or at most a few clones." - (11 May 2006) - G.M. Guiry
South Australia and Victoria; should be regarded as serious pest (Womersley 2003: 499). - (18 February 2009) - G.M. Guiry

Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=46

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 24 April 2018. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 05 April 2025

Currently in AlgaeBase: