Nitella sp. (genus)

A green freshwater algae at Brindabella National Park

Nitella sp. (genus) at Brindabella National Park - 18 May 2024
Nitella sp. (genus) at Brindabella National Park - 18 May 2024
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Identification history

Nitella sp. (genus) 5 Jul 2024 MichaelMulvaney
Nitella sp. (genus) 28 Jun 2024 JaneR
Ceratophyllum demersum 18 Jun 2024 Tapirlord
Ceratophyllum demersum 18 Jun 2024 Tapirlord

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User's notes

Unclear exactly how many plants

7 comments

JaneR wrote:
   19 Jun 2024
That’s a very special sighting, Ciaran, of a rarely recorded plant, in a very unusual habitat: and especially significant as it seems to be fertile. I hope you collected a specimen for the herbarium.
JaneR wrote:
   19 Jun 2024
Details are a bit fuzzy on my screen. This could be Nitella - dimensions seem rather small for Ceratophyllum, and branching not quite right.
( when I first looked at this sighting, there was a third image which did indeed look like Ceratophyllum, but it’s since disappeared. No idea what that was or where it came from )
Tapirlord wrote:
   4 Jul 2024
Thanks Jane, you are right! I've had this confirmed by Roman Romanov in Moscow who is an authority with freshwater algae and similar. Turns out I was a bit hasty, better luck next time! :)
JaneR wrote:
   4 Jul 2024
Ah, well: let’s hope it didn’t get into ALA as Ceratophyllum while you were waiting !
You don’t need to go to Moscow for such ID - there are people in Australia who work on freshwater algae: Michelle Casanova, Stephen Skinner, Tim Enwistle. There’s a good section on Characeae in Sainty and Jacobs “Waterplants in Australia” (but only the 4th ed.), and a dedicated field guide “Freshwater Algae in Australia” by Entwistle, Sonneman and Lewis. Plus researchers in nearby New Zealand.
It’s hard not to get super excited when you think you’ve found something special.

Must admit that once I saw the photos on my PC monitor ( rather than my little smart phone), I was convinced for Ceratophyllum.
   5 Jul 2024
Jane when ALA draws up our data it should include any changes to identification and their record should also be updated
JaneR wrote:
   5 Jul 2024
Thanks, Michael: I wasn't sure how the uploading ID worked, and have worried a bit about how later ID corrections were addressed. Nice to be re-assured - I should have guessed the good guys at CNM and ALA would have anticipated all this !
Tapirlord wrote:
   7 Jul 2024
Roman is a friend from Inat, but perhaps I’ll get in touch with some of those others!

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Location information

Sighting information

  • 30 Abundance
  • 18 May 2024 12:13 PM Recorded on
  • Tapirlord Recorded by

Additional information

  • Less than 10cm Plant height
  • False In flower

Species information

Record quality

  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Verified by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
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