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Taxon
Halecium spatulum Watson, 2000
Nomenclature
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Family: HaleciidaeGenus: Halecium
SUMMARY
Hydrorhiza reptant on substrate, stems to 10 mm high, lower stems lightly to heavily fascicled, irregularly branched in one to several orders of branching more or less in the same plane; branches given off opposite stem node, stem and branch internodes long, straight, smooth, expanding distally to hydrophore, nodes oblique, facing in opposite directions, a tumescence above and below node.
Primary hydrophores alternate, short, usually a minute saddle-shaped notch between hydrophore and stem, secondary hydrophores common, tertiary hydrophores rare; secondary hydrophores variable in length, base tumid on adcauline side, walls expanding evenly to margin.
Hydrotheca shallow dish-shaped, expanding a little to a circular margin with thin, not everted rim; some hydrothecal margins replicated once or twice, diaphragm distinct, a few very small ellipsoidal desmocytes above diaphragm.
Hydranths extensible, with c. 16 tentacles.
Gonotheca elongated, spatulate, widening from base to distal margin, arising without distinct pedicel from below a primary hydrophore, distal end truncate, slightly domed, no operculum, perisarc thin and smooth.
Colour: Fascicled stems pale brown, becoming white in monosiphonic parts, female gonophore pale blue.