Electronic Flora of South Australia Species Fact Sheet

  Griffithsia monilis var. monilis

Phylum Rhodophyta – Order Ceramiales – Family Ceramiaceae – Tribe Griffithsieae

Thallus (Pl. 1 fig. 4) 1.5–4.5 cm high, cells 1.2–2.5 mm in diameter.

Reproduction: Procarp (Fig. 155A) with a single carpogonial branch borne on the supporting cell; carposporophyte with 4–6 two-celled synchronic involucral branches, the lower cells small (Fig. 155B), urceolate, the terminal cells large (Fig. 155C), 210–409 µm in diameter and L/D 2–2.5, apically swollen, furcate or irregularly lobed. Spermatangial involucre absent.

Tetrasporangial features, as described above.

Selected specimens: Point Peron, W. Aust., upper sublittoral reef pools (Mitchell, 22.ix.1966; AD, A30777). Careening Bay, W. Aust. (Smith, 22.xi.1967; AD, A32667). Pennington Bay, Kangaroo I., S. Aust., sublittoral fringe (Womersley, 28.viii.1950; AD, Al 3381). Robe, S. Aust., upper sublittoral (Baldock, 27.v.1963; AD, A26385), and lower eulittoral in shade, (Baldock, 18.v.1964; AD, A27837), and (Womersley, 31.x.1993; AD, A63202). Portland, Vic. in rock pools (Beauglehole, 13.i.1954; AD, A20538). Point Lonsdale, Vic., in rock pool (Ducker, 9.ix.1963; AD, A37727). Rocky Cape, Tas., upper sublittoral pool (Wollaston 24.ii.1964; AD, A28029).

Distribution map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of SA

Taxonomic notes: The type variety generally grows on rock from the lower eulittoral to 2m deep.

References: The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia Part IIIC

Author: R. N. Baldock

Publication: Womersley, H.B.S. (24 December, 1998)
The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia
Rhodophyta. Part IIIC. Ceramiales – Ceramiaceae, Dasyaceae
©State Herbarium of South Australia, Government of South Australia

Illustrations in Womersley Part IIIA, 1998: PLATE 1 fig. 4; FIGS 155 A–C.

Plate 1   enlarge

PLATE 1 fig. 1. Amoenothamnion planktonium drift at Bridgewater Bay, Vic. (AD, A22270).
fig. 2. Griffithsia teges at Robe, S. Aust., Nov. 1997 (similar to Ad, A27858). Photo: R.N. Baldock.
fig. 3. Griffithsia pulvinata at Robe, S. Aust. (AD, A63203).
fig. 4. Griffithsia monilis at Robe, S. Aust. (AD, A63202)

Figure 155   enlarge

Fig. 155. A–C. Griffithsia monilis var. monilis (AD, A26385). A. Procarp at fertilization. B. Procarp soon after fertilization. C. Young carposporophyte. D–H Griffithsia monilis var. cincta (AD, A63201). D. Fertile axis with a single supporting cell bearing 2 carpogonial branches. E. Young spermatangial fascicle. F. Peripheral spermatangial fascicle. G. Inner tetrasporangial fascicle. H. Peripheral tetrasporangial fascicle. I. Griffithsia grandis (AD, A63928). Types of tetrasporangial fascicle. (A–H, as in Baldock 1976, courtesy of Aust. J. Bot.; I by Baldock.)

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