About
Contact
Links
Electronic Flora of South Australia
Electronic Flora of South Australia
Census of SA Plants, Algae & Fungi
Identification tools
 

Electronic Flora of South Australia Genus Fact Sheet

Genus ASPEROCOCCUS Lamouroux 1813: 277

Phylum Phaeophyta – Order Dictyosiphonales – Family Punctariaceae

Thallus (sporophyte) simple, hollow, terete to irregularly inflated or bullose, or ligulate and compressed with the sides closely adjacent but not united, membranous, usually 5–100 cm long and 0.2–5 cm broad, with a slender base and a small, discoid, holdfast. Growth diffuse. Structure of membrane 3–4 cells thick, with a small-celled, phaeoplastic cortex and larger celled medulla, with several cortical cells overlying each medullary cell; phaeoplasts numerous, each with a pyrenoid. Phaeophycean hairs numerous, scattered.

Microthallus filamentous, branched.

Reproduction: Unilocular sporangia in discrete, scattered, rounded sori, accompanied by phaeophycean hairs and paraphyses, with the clavate sporangia exserted from the cortex. Plurilocular sporangia occasional, in the same or similar sori.

Microthalli hecatonemoid, with plurilocular gametangia producing isogametes or germinating parthenogenetically (Knight et al. 1935).

Life history diplohaplontic and heteromorphic, or direct.

Lectotype species: A. bullosus Lamouroux.

Taxonomic notes: A genus of 4–5 species, widely distributed in sheltered waters.

References:

KNIGHT, M., BLACKLER, M.C.H. & PARKE, M.W. (1935). Notes on the life-cycle of species of Asperococcus. Proc. Trans. Liverpool Biol. Soc. 48, 79–97.

LAMOUROUX, J.V.F. (1813). Essai sur les genres de la famille des thalassiophytes non articulées. Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat., Paris 20, 21–47, 115–139, 267–293, Plates 7–13(1–7).

The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia Part II complete list of references.

Author: H.B.S. Womersley

Publication: Womersley, H.B.S. (14 December, 1987)
The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia
Part II
©Board of the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium, Government of South Australia

KEY TO SPECIES OF ASPEROCOCCUS

1. Thallus flat, 10–20 (–25) cm long, (1–) 1.5–3 cm broad and 250–500 µm thick, with a narrow internal cavity crossed by filaments 1

A. compressus

1. Thallus terete to irregularly inflated or bullate, with a large cavity

2

2. Thallus 2–10 cm in diameter, irregularly bullose, broadening suddenly from a short, slender, stipe

A. bullosus

2. Thallus 2–10 mm in diameter, terete, expanding gradually from the short stipe

A. fistulosus


Disclaimer Copyright Disclaimer Copyright Email Contact:
State Herbarium of South Australia
Government of South Australia Government of South Australia Government of South Australia Department for Environment and Water