Scaberia agardhii (Scaberia agardhii)

Brown Algae (Scaberia agardhii) This sturdy seaweed stood out amongst other leafy and filamentous sea weeds on the beach. The "green-pepper corn" studded branches looked very interesting and it took me several months to find out what it was and a little more about it.
Branches had scaly segments and a few rounded structures which are probably receptacles that house sex organs. Growth is said to be initiated by a three-sided apical cell.
This species is endemic to Southern Australia. Found in shallow sheltered and moderately exposed sea beds in temperate Australian waters. Australia,Geotagged,Scaberia agardhii,Summer,brown algae

Appearance

Up to 200mm long on a conical holdfast; branching near base; stems round; lobed laterals give the branches a verrucose appearance. Thalli might show yellow hues.

Naming

Synonym
Castraltia salicornioides A.Richard 1834

Habitat

Benthic, estuarine, protected inlets and bays. Down to 40 metres.

Reproduction

Thalli monoecious.

References:

Some text fragments are auto parsed from Wikipedia.

http://marinespecies.org/aphia.php/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=214354
http://www.flora.sa.gov.au/efsa/Marine_Benthic_Flora_SA/Part_II/Scaberia_agardhii.shtml
http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=gbe4f66af2c81cfce

Taxonomy
Kingdom	Chromista
Division	Ochrophyta
Class	Phaeophyceae
Order	Fucales
Family	Sargassaceae
Genus	Scaberia
Species	Scaberia agardhii

Photographed in
Australia