Electronic Flora of South Australia Species Fact Sheet

  Griffithsia monilis var. cincta Baldock 1976: 521, figs 8–10.

Phylum Rhodophyta – Order Ceramiales – Family Ceramiaceae – Tribe Griffithsieae

Thallus 2.5–4.5 cm high, cells globose, 1.5–3.2 mm in diameter.

Reproduction: Procarp (Fig. 155D) consistently with a pair of carpogonial branches on each supporting cell, cells of the fertile axis relatively large and discoid (50–70 µm in diameter); carposporophyte with 9–13 abaxial, two-celled synchronic involucral branches, the lower cells small, terete, the terminal cells large, 280–490 µm in diameter and L/D 2–3, apically swollen, often furcate. Spermatangial fascicles initially polychotomous (Fig. 155E), those peripheral to clusters (Fig. 155F) forming axes of 2–3 cells with large, clavate, apically furcate involucral cells 190–290 µm in diameter and L/D 1.3–7.

Tetrasporangial features (Fig. 155G, H) as described for the species.

Type from Slipway reef, Robe, S. Aust., upper sublittoral, epiphytic on Cystophora (Womersley, 6.xi.1965); holotype and isotypes in AD, A29656.

Selected specimens: Pennington Bay, Kangaroo I., S. Aust., on Cystophora, upper sublittoral (Baldock, 19.i.1965; AD, A28615). Slipway reef, Robe, S. Aust., on Cystophora cuspidata, upper sublittoral (Nicholson, 17.v.1965; AD, A29284). Long Gully, S of Robe, S Aust., on Laurencia tumida (Womersley, 1.xi.1993, AD A63201).

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

Distribution: Kangaroo I. and SE of S. Aust., but probably more widespread because diagnosis requires detailed examination of spermatangial clusters and carposporophytes.

Taxonomic notes: This variety is invariably epiphytic on larger algae, in the upper sublittoral to 5 m deep.

References:

BALDOCK, R.N. (1976). The Griffithsieae group of the Ceramiaceae (Rhodophyta) and its southern Australian representatives. Aust. J. Bot. 24, 509–593.

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

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

Illustration in Womersley Part IIIA, 1998: FIGS 155 D–H.

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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