Seaweeds of the South African South Coast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Order Ceramiales

Family Rhodomelaceae

Lophosiphonia Falkenberg in F.Schmitz & Falkenberg

Thalli polysiphonous, ecorticate, mostly prostrate, with dorsal erect branches. Prostrate axes bearing determinate erect branches that arise endogenously (from the axial cells) and irregularly. Erect branches unbranched or with sparse secondary branches, usually with trichoblasts; trichoblasts arising in secund or spiral series. Pericentral cells reported to be 4-18 in genus, but 4-19 in South African south coast species. Rhizoids ventral on prostrate axes, with lobed attachment pads. Reproductive structures borne on erect branches; tetrasporangia one per segment, arranged in spiral series; gametophytes dioecious, antheridial stands conical, replacing trichoblasts; cystocarps ovoid.

There is some taxonomic confusion regarding the distinction between this genus and Polysiphonia. Nine species of Lophosiphonia are currently recognised (Guiry & Guiry 2011), of which two are recorded from the south coast of South Africa.

Key to species

1a Pericentral cells four	L. capensis
1b Pericentral cells 10 – 19	L. reptabunda

 

References Lophosiphonia

Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2011. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 01 June 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 18 April 2024.