Seaweeds of the South African South Coast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Order Ceramiales

Family Rhodomelaceae

Laurencia pumila var dehoopiensis Francis, Bolton, Mattio et R.J. Anderson in Francis et al. 2017: 814-815, Fig. 7

Thalli red, epiphytic, up to 14 cm tall, terete, main axes percurrent. Axes up to 1.5 mm in diameter, branching in 2-3 orders, polystichous, branching alternate to subverticillate, laterals shortening towards apices, becoming wart-like near tips; apical pits present. In cross-section axial (central) and periaxial cells visible, medullary cells to more than 100 um in diameter, cells becoming smaller outwards; outer cortical cells 17-30 um long, 18-25 um wide. Outermost cortical cells each containing a single corps en cerise. Reproductive structures not seen.

Collections, ecology and regional distribution

So far only recorded at Koppie Alleen, De Hoop. Subtidal, epiphytic on Phloiocaulon suhrii.

Word distribution: apparently a South African endemic.

Type locality: Koppie Allen, De Hoop, Western Cape Province, South Africa (Francis et al. 2017).

 

Laurencia pumila var. dehoopiensis.

Laurencia pumila var. dehoopiensis. Detail of sparse branching and club-shaped terminal branches.

Laurencia pumila var. dehoopiensis. Cross section; note visible axial and periaxial cells.

 

References Laurencia pumila var. dehoopiensis

Francis, C.M., Bolton, J.J., Mattio, L., Mandiwana-Neudani, T. & Anderson, R.J. 2017. Molecular systematics reveals increased diversity within the South African Laurencia complex (Rhodomelaceae, Rhodophyta). Journal of Phycology 53: 804-819.

 

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 25 April 2024.