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Electronic Flora of South Australia Genus Fact Sheet

Genus XIPHOPHORA Montagne 1842: 12

Phylum Phaeophyta – Order Fucales – Family Hormosiraceae

Thallus 10–60(400) cm long, with one to several subdichotomous fronds from a lacerate, becoming hapteroid, holdfast. Fronds frequently branched at intervals of 2–6 (–10) cm, compressed, 3–10 mm broad below, 2–6 mm broad above, with relatively straight or long, slightly curved, terminal segments becoming fertile; vesicles absent. Growth from a single, four-sided apical cell in a narrow apical groove. Structure of a medulla of elongate cells and hyphae, and a cortex of isodiametric cells with an outer meristoderm.

Reproduction: Thalli monoecious. Terminal branches developing into receptacles with unisexual or bisexual conceptacles scattered or more or less in lines, with ostioles on the flat surface; oogonia producing four eggs; antheridia on branched paraphyses.

Type species: X. billardieri C. Montagne [= X. gladiata (Labillardière) Kjellman].

Taxonomic notes: A genus of two species, endemic to southern Australian and New Zealand coasts.

References:

MONTAGNE, C. (1842). Prodromus Generum Specierumque Phycearum Novarum In Itinere ad Polum Antarcticum. (Paris.)

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

Author: H.B.S. Womersley

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

KEY TO SPECIES OF XIPHOPHORA

1. Receptacles simple or 1–2 times dichotomous near their base, basally constricted and gently tapering, usually 10–30 cm long and 3–15 mm broad

X. gladiata

1. Receptacles several times dichotomous, almost linear, usually 2–5 cm long and 1.5–2.5 mm broad; vegetative branches 1–2 cm long between dichotomies and terminally, 1.5–2.5 mm broad

X. chondrophylla


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