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 DIPTEROSIPHONIA Schmitz & Falkenberg 1897: 463.

Phylum Rhodophyta – Family Rhodomelaceae – Tribe Herposiphonieae

Thallus entirely or largely prostrate, with indeterminate axes bearing determinate laterals in alternate pairs on successive segments, laterally placed or more or less erect and free, the anterior one usually branched similarly to the axes and sometimes extending as an indeterminate lateral, the posterior one usually simple. Attachment by rhizoids; usually epiphytic. Structure. Pericentral cells 4–10, ecorticate. Trichoblasts or determinate laterals. Rhizoids cut off from pericentral cells, unicellular with multicellular haptera. Cells uninucleate.

Reproduction: Gametophytes monoecious or (usually) dioecious. Procarps on basal cell of trichoblasts. Carposporophytes with a basal fusion cell and branched gonimoblast with clavate terminal carposporangia. Cystocarps ovoid to urceolate, pericarp ostiolate, ecorticate. Spermatangial organs replacing whole or branches of trichoblasts.

Tetrasporangia in determinate laterals, single per segment.

Type species: D. dendritica (C. Agardh) Schmitz in Schmitz & Falkenberg 1897: 464.

Taxonomic notes: Dipterosiphonia is a widely distributed genus characterized by the branching pattern of alternate pairs of determinate laterals on successive indeterminate segments.

References:

SCHMITZ, F. & FALKENBERG, P. (1897). Rhodomelaceae. In Engler, A. & Prantl, K., Die natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien. T.1. Abt. 2, pp. 421–480. (Englemann: Leipzig.)

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

Publication: Womersley, H.B.S. (24 February, 2003)
The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia
Rhodophyta. Part IIID. Ceramiales – Delesseriaceae, Sarcomeniaceae, Rhodomelaceae
Reproduced with permission from The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia Part IIID 2003, by H.B.S. Womersley. Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra. Copyright Commonwealth of Australia.

KEY TO SPECIES OF DIPTEROSIPHONIA

1. Prostrate axes with erect, mostly simple, crowded, determinate laterals 1–2 mm long

D. prorepens

1. Prostrate axes with prostrate or short, separated, simple or branched determinate laterals 100–800 µm long

2

2. Upper of the paired determinate laterals simple or little branched, free from the host

D. australica

2. Upper of the paired determinate laterals pinnately branched, the lower one simple, prostrate on the host

D. dendritica


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