|
Electronic Flora of South Australia Genus Fact Sheet
Phylum Phaeophyta – Order Dictyotales – Family Dictyotaceae – Tribe Zonarieae
Thallus erect, with one to several stupose axes from a rhizoidal holdfast, much branched in an irregularly lacerate manner with complanate branches but becoming twisted; laterals becoming inactive and tapering. Growth by a row of apical cells, with the thallus becoming 2 cells thick immediately below the apical cells and remaining distromatic. Phaeoplasts numerous per cell, discoid. Phaeophycean hairs in inconspicuous tufts.
Reproduction: Unilocular sporangia scattered, external to the blades, producing four spores. Sexual plants unknown (see below).
Life history unknown, possibly direct from the sporophyte.
Type species: C. microphylla (Harvey) J. Agardh.
Taxonomic notes: A monospecific genus confined to eastern southern Australia. Chlanidophora is closely related to Distromium, differing from the latter in having scattered sporangia and a much branched thallus with laterals becoming inactive and tapering to one to a few cells.
References:
AGARDH, J.G. (1894a). Analecta Algologica. Cont. I. Acta Univ. lund. 29, 1–144, Plates 1, 2.
The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia Part II complete list of references.
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
Email Contact: State Herbarium of South Australia |