Seaweeds of the South African South Coast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Order Ceramiales

Family Wrangeliaceae

Griffithsia sp.

Plants caespitose, with rhizoids and cross connections between filaments extending high up the thallus, free erect part only up to 1 cm tall. Branching irregular, as a rule the last four or five cells of a branch without laterals. Apical cells flat when cut off, ca. 60 µm in diameter. Cells swiftly increasing in diameter up to ca. 1 mm, almost round to ovate, producing moniliform filaments. Rhizoids produced from the upper end of cells, sometimes making connections with other filaments.

In collected material only carposporophytes present. Procarps formed on the subapical cell, but the axis continues growth even if the carpogonium is fertilized. Female fertile axis three-celled, the basal cell developing five two-celled involucral filaments. Carposporophyte with many gonimolobes, the carpospores at maturity measuring ca. 50 µm.

Apparently closely related to G. subbiconica, but without the asymmetric apical cell connected with the female axis. Also the cells are generally broader and rounder.

Collections, ecology and regional distribution

Only collected at Mbotyi, growing together with Wrangelia purpurifera.

Griffithsia sp. Apical part of thallus, Mbotyi, stained slide.

Griffithsia sp. Carposporophyte, Mbotyi, stained slide.

 

 

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 18 November 2024.