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Electronic Flora of South Australia Species Fact Sheet
Phylum Rhodophyta – Class Florideophyceae – Order Rhodymeniales – Family Rhodymeniaceae
Selected citations: J. Agardh 1876: 332. Dawson 1941: 139, pl. 18 figs 7, 8. De Toni 1900b: 519. De Toni & Forti 1923: 29. Harvey 1855a: 554; 1860: pl. 146. Huisman & Walker 1990: 416. Kylin 1931: 21. Lucas & Perrin 1947: 201, fig. 65. May 1965: 408. Tisdall 1898: 506. Womersley 1966: 150.
Synonyms
Sphaerococcus australis (Sonder) Kützing 1849: 784.
Acropeltis australis (Sonder) J. Agardh 1852: 609. Kützing 1869: 12, pl. 34c-e.
Rhodymenia foliifera Harvey 1863, synop.: xl. J. Agardh 1876: 331. Chapman & Dromgoole 1970: 133, pl. 43, lower (?). Dawson 1941: 136. De Toni 1900b: 517. Kylin 1931: 21, pl. 7 fig. 17. Lucas 1929a: 18; 1929b: 49. May 1965: 408. Reinbold 1847: 53; 1899: 45. Tisdall 1898: 506. Wilson 1892: 178. Womersley 1950: 175.
Thallus (Fig. 26A, B) medium to dark red-brown, cartilaginous, 4–10 (–20) cm high, often with basal stolons and developing erect fronds from the stipes and stolons; fronds complanately branched, branches subdichotomous at intervals of 5–30 mm, (2–) 3–5 (–10) mm broad, increasing from the base and usually broadest near the rounded apices but the upper few mm often narrower when fertile, often proliferous from the margin (occasionally from the adjacent surface) of damaged apices; branches 100–200 µm thick (Fig. 26E, F), increasing to 400 µm in lower parts (Fig. 26C); stipes short to medium [2–5 (–20) mm] in length, terete and compressed above, stipes and terete stolons 1–1.4 mm in diameter. Holdfast crustose, 2–10 mm across, stolons with digitate haptera; epilithic or epiphytic on Amphibolis. Structure multiaxial, developing a cortex (Fig. 26E, F) 2–3 cells >broad, outer cells ovoid and 3–5 µm in diameter, grading over 2–4 cells to the medulla (2–) 3–8 (–20) cells broad (Fig. 26C), cells compact, ovoid, 30–70 (–110) µm in diameter, walls 4–7 µm thick, with only small intercellular spaces or occasional smaller cells but sometimes with central compressed cells; cells (especially near the margins) often with globular inclusions; stolon medulla 0.9–1.2 mm and 20–30 cells broad, with a secondary cortex developing. Rhodoplasts discoid to elongate, in chains in inner cells.
Reproduction: Gametangial thalli dioecious. Carpogonial branches 3-celled, with a 2-celled auxiliary cell branch on an inner cortical (supporting) cell. Carposporophytes 400–700 µm across, with branched basal fusion cells, bearing a dense mass of ovoid to angular carposporangia 10–18 µm in diameter. Basal nutritive tissue moderate (Fig. 26D), with only a few lateral stellate cells remaining. Cystocarps (Fig. 26D) on the blade surfaces, globular to higher than broad, sessile, basally constricted, 700–1000 µm across; pericarp smooth, 180–400 µm and 15–25 cells thick, innermost cells stellate, mid cells ovoid, and outer small cells in anticlinal chains, with a depressed ostiole. Spermatangial sori near branch ends, spermatangia (Fig. 26E) cut off from elongate outer cortical initials, ovoid, 1–2 µm in diameter.
Tetrasporangia (Fig. 26F) in subapical, ovate, nemathecioid sori on one or both sides, the cortex modified with elongate outer cortical cells and additional small outer cells, tetrasporangia ovoid, apparently terminal and pit-connected only basally to inner cortical cells, 25–40 µm long and 15–22 µm in diameter, decussately divided.
Type from "Occid. Nov. Holl." (Preiss); lectotype (Millar 1990, p. 367) in MEL, 504193.
Selected specimens: Rottnest I., W. Aust. (Harvey, Alg. Aust. Exsicc. 380a; AD, A63558). Wilson Bay, Rottnest I., W. Aust., 15 m deep (Huisman, 20.vii.1994; AD, A63580); Whitford Beach, Perth, W. Aust., 6 m deep (Cook CS20, 20.viii.1979; AD, A50546). Twin Rocks, Head of Great Australian Bight, S. Aust., 20–22 m deep (Branden, 19.i.1991; AD, A61147). Pearson I., S. Aust., 50 m deep (Shepherd, 9.i.1969; AD, A33878). Brown Beach, Yorke Pen., S. Aust., 6–12 m deep (Shepherd, 14.iv.1963; AD, A26575). Off St Kilda, S. Aust., 3 m deep (S. Lewis, 28.viii.1972; AD, A42738). Glenelg, S. Aust., 4.5 m deep (Cannon, 29.i.1987; AD, A58571 and 4.vi.1987; AD, A58572). Marino, S. Aust., drift (Womersley, 30.vi.1963; AD, A26465). Port Noarlunga, S. Aust., 1.5–3 m deep (Baldock, 7.xii.1965; AD, A30498). Port Elliot, S. Aust., drift (Womersley, 28.v.1994; AD, A63568). Pennington Bay, Kangaroo I., S. Aust., 2 m deep (Kraft, 13.iv.1973; AD, A43582). Muston, Kangaroo I., S. Aust., upper sublittoral (Womersley, 27.viii.1950; AD, A15373). Young Rocks, S of Kangaroo I., S. Aust., 16–30 m deep (Branden, 18.vi.1991; AD, A61465). 9 km off Cape Northumberland, S. Aust., 38 m deep (Shepherd, 12.iii.1975; AD, A46198). Dutton Bay, Portland, Vic., drift on Amphibolis (Womersley, 13.iv.1959; AD, A22697). Off Williamstown, Port Philip, Vic., 2.5 m deep (Macpherson, 15.i.1961; AD, A28820). Walkerville, Vic., drift (Sinkora A1544, 23.ii.1972; AD, A42274). Gabo I., Vic., 28 m deep (Shepherd, 14.ii.1973; AD, A43348). Eddystone Point., Tas., 30 m deep (Riddle, 24.ii.1990; AD, A60404). Marion Bay, Tas., 10–12 m deep (Shepherd, 13.ii.1970; AD, A35644). Dead I., Port Arthur, Tas., 9–14 m deep (McCauley, 2.iii.1990; AD, A60475).
Distribution: Rottnest I., W. Aust. (probably further north), to Gabo I., Vic., and around Tasmania.
New Zealand?
Taxonomic notes: R. australis is here interpreted broadly as the common species on southern Australian coasts, with basal stolons, short to medium length stipes and branches (2–) 3–5 (–10) mm broad. Proliferations are common from damaged apices of branches and occasionally as small leaflets from the margins or surface. It occurs from low tide level to 50 m deep, and varies considerably in width of branches depending on age, state of growth and degree of water movement.
R. foliifera Harvey is not considered distinct from R. australis. The type was from King George Sound, W. Aust. (lectotype Harvey, Alg. Aust. Exsicc. 381B in TCD) and was first referred to the South American R. corallina by Harvey.
R. australis has been recorded, usually with doubt, from Indonesia by Weber-van Bosse (1928, p. 461), from Bombay, India by Børgesen (1934, p. 41), and from Juan Fernandez I. by Levring (1941, p. 645). These records need verification.
References:
AGARDH, J.G. (1852). Species Genera et Ordines Algarum. Vol. 2, Part 2, pp. 337–720. (Gleerup: Lund.)
AGARDH, J.G. (1876). Species Genera et Ordines Algarum. Vol. 3, Part 1 — Epicrisis systematis Floridearum, pp. i-vii, 1–724. (Weigel: Leipzig.)
BØRGESEN, F. (1934). Some marine algae from the northern part of the Arabian Sea with remarks on their geographical distribution. K. Dansk. Vidensk. Selsk. Biol. Meddr 11(6), 1–72, Plates 1, 2.
CHAPMAN, V.J. & DROMGOOLE, F.I. (1970). The marine algae of New Zealand, Part III: Rhodophyceae. Issue 2: Florideophycidae: Rhodyméniales, pp. 115–154, Plates 39–50. (Cramer: Germany.)
DAWSON, E.Y. (1941). A review of the genus Rhodymenia with descriptions of new species. Allan Hancock Pacif. Exped. 3(7), 115–181.
DE TONI, G.B. & FORTI, A. (1923). Alghe di Australia, Tasmania e Nouva Zelanda. Mem. R. Inst. Veneto Sci., Lett. Arti 29, 1–183, Plates 1–10.
DE TONI, G.B. (1900b). Sylloge Algarum omnium hucusque Cognitarum. Vol. 4. Florideae. Sect. 2, pp. 387–776. (Padua.)
HARVEY, W.H. (1855a). Some account of the marine botany of the colony of Western Australia. Trans. R. Ir. Acad. 22, 525–566.
HARVEY, W.H. (1860). Phycologia Australica. Vol. 3, Plates 121–180. (Reeve: London.)
HARVEY, W.H. (1863). Phycologia Australica. Vol. 5, Plates 241–300, synop., pp. i-lxxiii. (Reeve: London.)
HUISMAN, J.M. & WALKER, D.I. (1990). A catalogue of the marine plants of Rottnest Island, Western Australia, with notes on their distribution and biogeography. Kingia 1, 349–459.
KÜTZING, F.T. (1849). Species Algarum. (Leipzig.)
KÜTZING, F.T. (1869). Tabulae Phycologicae. Vol. 19. (Nordhausen.)
KYLIN, H. (1931). Die Florideenordnung Rhodyméniales. Lunds Univ. Årsskr. N.F. Avd. 2, 27 (11), 1–48, Plates 1–20.
LEVRING, T. (1941). Die Meeresalgen der Juan Fernandez — Inseln. Nat. His. Juan Fernandez & Easter Is., Vol. 2, 601–670, Plates 49–53.
LUCAS, A.H.S. & PERRIN, F. (1947). The Seaweeds of South Australia. Part 2. The Red Seaweeds. (Govt Printer: Adelaide.)
LUCAS, A.H.S. (1929a). The marine algae of Tasmania. Pap. Proc. R. Soc. Tasm. 1928, 6–27.
LUCAS, A.H.S. (1929b). A census of the marine algae of South Australia. Trans. R. Soc. S. Aust. 53, 45–53.
MAY, V. (1965). A census and key to the species of Rhodophyceae (red algae) recorded from Australia. Contr. N.S.W. natn. Herb. 3, 349–429.
MILLAR, A.J.K. (1990). Marine Red Algae of the Coffs Harbour Region, northern New South Wales. Aust. Syst. Bot. 3, 293–593.
SONDER, O.G. (1845). Nova Algarum genera et species, quas in itinere ad oras occidentales Novae Hollandiae, collegit L. Preiss, Ph.Dr. Bot. Zeit. 3, 49–57.
SONDER, O.W. (1848). Algae. In Lehmann, C., Plantae Preissianae. Vol. 2, pp. 161–195. (Hamburg.)
SONDER, O.W. (1881). In Mueller, F., Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. Supplementum ad volumen undecinum: Algae Australianae hactenus cognitae, pp. 1–42, 105–107. (Melbourne.)
TISDALL, H.T. (1898). The algae of Victoria. Rep. 7th Meet. Aust. Ass. Adv. Sci., Sydney, 1898, pp. 493–516.
WEBER-VAN BOSSE, A. (1928). Liste des Algues du Siboga. IV. Rhodophyceae. Part 3. Gigartinales and Rhodyméniales. Siboga-Expeditae, Monogr. LIXd, pp. 393–533, Plates 11–16.
WILSON, J.B. (1892). Catalogue of algae collected at or near Port Phillip Heads and Western Port. Proc. R. Soc. Vict. 4, 157–190.
WOMERSLEY, H.B.S. (1950). The marine algae of Kangaroo Island. III. List of Species 1. Trans. R. Soc. S. Aust. 73, 137–197.
WOMERSLEY, H.B.S. (1966). Port Phillip survey, 1957–1963: Algae. Mem. natn. Mus., Vict. No. 27, 133–156.
The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia Part IIIB complete list of references.
Publication:
Womersley, H.B.S. (28 June, 1996)
The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia
Rhodophyta. Part IIIB. Gracilarialse, Rhodymeniales, Corallinales and Bonnemaisoniales
Reproduced with permission from The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia Part IIIB 1996, by H.B.S. Womersley. Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra. Copyright Commonwealth of Australia.
Illustration in Womersley Part IIIA, 1996: FIG. 26.
Figure 26 enlarge
Fig. 26. Rhodymenia australis (A, C–F, AD, A63580; B, AD, A50546). A, B. Habit. C. Transverse section of older branch. D. Section of cystocarp. E. Transverse section of male thallus with a spermatangial sorus on left. F. Transverse section of tetrasporangial thallus.
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