Seaweeds of the South African South Coast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Order Ectocarpales

Family Acinetosporaceae

Hincksia J.E.Gray

Thalli erect, filamentous, branched; chloroplasts discoid, numerous, parietal, with one pyrenoid each. Pattern of branching varies within genus; secund , irregular scattered or opposite depending on species. Plurilocular sporangia variable in position. Unilocular sporangia seldom found, when present in same position as plurilocular sporangia.

There are 26 currently recognised species worldwide, in this cosmopolitan genus (Guiry & Guiry 2011): three are recorded from the south coast, and we note an additional possibly undescribed species.

Hincksia is distinguished from Feldmannia by more profuse branching, meristematic zones at the bases of each lateral, relatively short laterals, sporangia above and below meristems, and normally sessile sporangia.

 

Key to the species

1a. Branching on main axes opposite, cortication of main branches below side branches, plurilocular sporangia ovoid	H. granulosa
1b. Branching on main axes irregular, secund or spiral, no cortication of axes, plurilocular sporangia elongate-ovoid or conical	2
2a. Branching irregular to secund above, plurilocular sporangia straight, subcylindrical	H. mitchelliae
2b. Branching spiral below,, unilateral and adaxial above, plurilocular sporangia elongate-ovoid to conical often with curved apices	H. sandriana

 

References Hincksia

Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2011. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched September 2011.

 

Cite this record as:

Anderson RJ, Stegenga H, Bolton JJ. 2016. Seaweeds of the South African South Coast.
World Wide Web electronic publication, University of Cape Town, http://southafrseaweeds.uct.ac.za; Accessed on 19 April 2024.