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Electronic Flora of South Australia Species Fact Sheet

Amansia serrata (Harvey) Womersley, comb. nov.

Phylum Rhodophyta – Family Rhodomelaceae – Tribe Amansieae

Synonyms

Kuetzingia serrata Harvey 1855a: 538.

Melanamansia serrata (Harvey) Norris 1988a: 222. Huisman 1993: 13; 2000: 174.

Amansia kuetzingioides Harvey 1858: p1. 51; 1863, synop.: xv. De Toni 1903: 1085. De Toni & Forti 1923: 47. Falkenberg 1901: 420, pl. 7, fig. 5. Huisman & Walker 1990: 431. Lucas 1909: 45. Lucas & Perrin 1947: 296, fig. 140. May 1965: 396. Sonder 1880: 31. Womersley 1950: 189.

Vidalia? kuetzingioides (Harvey) J. Agardh 1863: 1128.

Rytiphlaea kuetzingioides (Harvey) Sonder 1880: 33.

Euspiros kuetzingioides Kuntze 1891: 894.

Amansia hawkeri i. Agardh 1892: 173.

Thallus (Fig. 171A) dark red-brown, 10–35 cm high, much branched more-or-less bipinnately with the flat pinnae 1–3 cm long and bearing short, alternate, determinate, spinous pinnules 1–2 mm long, with acute tips; main branches 2–4 mm broad with a central thickened midrib 1–2 mm broad, denuded below, wings 2 cells thick, ecorticate; determinate laterals 3–6 axial cells apart. Most fronds are covered on older axes with the bryozoan Bathypora nitens (Fig. 171E) or a didemnid ascidian, and frequently with a hydroid. Holdfast discoid-conical, becoming divided; epilithic. Structure. Apices circinnate (Fig. 171D), apical cell hemispherical, 15–20 µm in diameter. Axial cells with 5 pericentral cells, 2 lateral on each side and one ventral, with the dorsal-lateral cells each cutting off a pseudopericentral cell (Fig. 171C) and occasionally the ventral cell dividing laterally to form an additional pseudopericentral cell; lateral pericentral cells dividing rapidly to form the wings, with horizontal tiers of cells (Fig. 171B) slightly over-lapping in surface view and appearing as a tier of short cells, cells 40–50 µm in diameter and L/D (3–) 4–5. Midrib slender in upper branches, becoming corticated with irregular, thick-walled cells that spread laterally from the midrib. Trichoblasts (Fig. 171B) frequent and prominent at apices of the determinate pinnules, 0.5–1.5 mm long, Cells mostly multinucleate; rhodoplasts discoid.

Reproduction: Gametophytes dioecious. Procarps (Fig. 171F) borne on trichoblasts near apices of pinnules. Carposporophytes with a basal fusion cell and much-branched gonimoblast with clavate terminal carposporangia 35–55 (–90) µm in diameter. Cystocarps (Fig. 171G) borne on determinate pinnules, globose, 0.7–1 mm in diameter; pericarp ostiolate, corticated, 3–4 cells thick. Spermatangial organs (Fig. 171H) borne on lower branches of, or replacing, trichoblasts, ovoid, 80–140 µm in diameter, with a sterile basal cell.

Tetrasporangial stichidia (Fig. 171I) converted from upper part of determinate pinnules, later with lateral stichidia also, elongate-ovoid to short-lanceolate, compressed, 200–300 µm broad and 450–750 µm long, with tetrasporangia in pairs for 4–7 segments (the older 1 or 2 mature), 60–140 µm in diameter, with cover cells but no further cortication.

Type from Rottnest I., W. Aust. (Harvey); holotype (Trav. Set 291) in Herb. Harvey, TCD.

Selected specimens: Flat Rocks, 40 km S of Geraldton, W. Aust., drift (Mitchell, 12.ix.1966; AD, A31046). Point Peron, W. Aust., drift (Gordon, 15.xi.1968; AD, A34261). Israelite Bay, W. Aust., drift (Wells, 10.xii.1974; AD, A46080). Royston Head, S. Aust., 10 m deep (Baker, 28.x.1993; AD, A65526). Tiparra Reef, S. Aust., 5 m deep (Shepherd, 11.i.1978; AD, A49406). Investigator Strait, S. Aust., 31 m deep (Watson, 23.i.1971; AD, A41095). Norma wreck, off Outer Harbor, S. Aust., 15 m deep (F. Mitchell, 15.iii.1959; AD, A22419). Glenelg, S. Aust., 17 m deep (Glover, 20.iv.1961; AD, A24848). Port Noarlunga, S. Aust., 24 m deep (Ottaway, 3.ii.1981; AD, A52093). Cable Hut Reef, Penneshaw, Kangaroo I., S. Aust., 22 m deep (Lavers, 1.ii.2000; AD, A68838). Penneshaw, Kangaroo I., S. Aust., 10 m deep on breakwater (Lavers, 15.xi.1999; AD, A68902). Vivonne Bay, Kangaroo I., S. Aust., drift (Womersley, 1.i.2000; AD, A68472). Bales Beach, Kangaroo I., S. Aust., drift (Womersley, 31.xii.1999; AD, A68434). Point Renolds, Kangaroo I., S. Aust., drift (Womersley, 28.x.1995; AD, A64588). Stanley Beach, Kangaroo I., S. Aust., drift (Womersley, 6.ii.1957; AD, A20930). Cape Jaffa, S. Aust., drift (Womersley, 10.xii.1991; AD, A61581). Robe, S. Aust., drift (Womersley, 2.iv.1999; AD, A68116).


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

Distribution: Flat Rocks, W. Aust., to Robe, S. Australia.

Taxonomic notes: Amansia serrata, first described by Harvey in 1855 as Kuetzingia serrata, was invalidly changed to A. kuetzingioides by Harvey in 1858 and has been known under the latter name most frequently. The earlier combination of A. serrata was apparent to the author many years ago, and also to Dr Paul Silva (see Silva et al. 1996, p. 528) who had intended to publish it but was preempted by Norris (1988a, p. 222) who listed this combination as a synonym of his Melanamansia serrata, a combination which is here rejected (see generic comments). The combination Amansia serrata is now validly published.

References:

AGARDH, J.G. (1863). Species Genera et Ordines Algarum. Vol. 2, Part 3, pp. 787–1291. (Gleerup: Lund.)

AGARDH, J.G. (1892). Analecta Algologica. Acta Univ. lund. 28, 1–182, Plates 1–3.

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. (1903). Sylloge Algarum omnium hucusque Cognitarum. Vol. 4. Florideae. Sect. 3. pp. 775–1521 + 1523–1525. (Padua.)

FALKENBERG, P. (1901). Die Rhodomelaceen des Golfes von Neapel und der angrenzenden Meeres-abschnitte. Fauna und Flora des Golfes von Neapel. Monogr. 26. (Friedländer: Berlin.)

HARVEY, W.H. (1855a). Some account of the marine botany of the colony of Western Australia. Trans. R. Jr. Acad. 22, 525–566.

HARVEY, W.H. (1858). Phycologia Australica. Vol. 1, Plates 1–60. (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.

HUISMAN, J.M. (1993). Supplement to the catalogue of marine plants recorded from Rottnest Island. In Wells, F.E., Walker, D.I., Kirkman, H. & Lethbridge, R. (Eds). The marine flora and fauna of Rottnest Island, Western Australia. Proc. Fifth Int. Mar. Biol. Workshop, pp. 11–18. (W. Aust. Museum: Perth.)

HUISMAN, J.M. (2000). Marine Plants of Australia. (Univ. W. Aust. Press, Nedlands, W. Aust. & ABRS, Canberra, A.C.T.)

KUNTZE, O. (1891). Revisio generum Plantarum. Part II. 4. Algae, pp. 877–930. (Leipzig.)

LUCAS, A.H.S. & PERRIN, F. (1947). The Seaweeds of South Australia. Part 2. The Red Seaweeds. (Govt Printer: Adelaide.)

LUCAS, A.H.S. (1909). Revised list of the Fucoideae and Florideae of Australia. Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 34, 9–60.

MAY, V. (1965). A census and key to the species of Rhodophyceae (red algae) recorded from Australia. Contr. N.S. W. Natl Herb. 3, 349–429.

NORRIS, R.E. (1988a). Structure and reproduction of Amansia and Melanamansia gen. nov. (Rhodophyta, Rhodomelaceae) on the southeastern African coast. J. Phycol. 24, 209–223.

SILVA, P.C., BASSON, P.W. & MOE, R.L. (1996). Catalogue of the Benthic Marine Algae of the Indian Ocean. (Univ. California Press: Berkeley.)

SONDER, O.W. (1880). In Mueller, F., Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. Supplementum ad volumen undecinum: Algae Australianae hactenus cognitae, pp. 1–42, 105–107. (Melbourne.)

WOMERSLEY, H.B.S. (1950). The marine algae of Kangaroo Island. III. List of Species 1. Trans. R. Soc. S. Aust. 73, 137–197.

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.


Illustration in Womersley Part IIIA, 2003: FIG. 171.

Figure 171 image

Figure 171   enlarge

Fig. 171. Amansia serrata (A, D, I, AD, A68472; B, C, AD, A68838; E, AD, A20930; F, AD, A24848; G, AD, A681 16; H, AD, A68902). A. Habit. B. Branch with spinous laterals and trichoblasts, showing cell arrangement. C. Transverse section of axial and pericentral cells, with 2 dorsal pseudopericentral cells (upper). D. Section of circinnate apex. E. Cover of a bryozoan or the branch surface. F. Procarps. G. Section of a cystocarp. H. Spermatangial organs. I. Stichidia.


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