About
Contact
Links
Electronic Flora of South Australia
Electronic Flora of South Australia
Census of SA Plants, Algae & Fungi
Identification tools
 

Electronic Flora of South Australia Family Fact Sheet

Tribe WARRENIEAE Schmitz 1889: 450

Phylum Rhodophyta – Order Ceramiales – Family Ceramiaceae

Thallus profusely branched with opposite, irregularly branched whorl-branchlets and laterals, loosely corticated below with rhizoidal branches arising from the basal periaxial cells; gland cells present. Cells multinucleate.

Reproduction: Gametophytes dioecious. Carpogonial branches 4-celled, borne directly on cells of determinate or indeterminate branches, that cell acting as the supporting cell. Auxiliary cell cut off from the supporting cell, with post-fertilization diploid nucleus transfer by means of a connecting cell, then forming three gonimoblast initials and lobes of carposporangia. Sterile involucral branchlets develop from cells below the supporting cell, loosely surrounding the carposporophyte. Spermatangia borne oppositely or in slight whorls on short lateral branchlets.

Tetrasporangia terminal on short branchlets on lower cells of lateral branchlets, ovoid, cruciately or decussately divided.

Life history triphasic with isomorphic gametophytes and tetrasporophytes.

Taxonomic notes: The Warrenieae includes the single genus and species Warrenia comosa (Harvey) Kützing. Wollaston (1971, p. 297) regarded it as a phylogenetically primitive tribe of the family, characterised by irregular and variable branching with most cells producing reproductive organs; the cells of the lateral branchlets act as supporting cells and produce carpogonial branches directly, with post-fertilization connection to the auxiliary cell via a relatively large connecting cell, and with numerous sterile involucral filaments from cells below the supporting cell.

References:

SCHMITZ, F. (1889). Systematische Ubersicht der bisher bekannten Gattungen der Florideen. Flora, Jena 72, 435–456, Plate 21.

WOLLASTON, E.M. (1971). The morphology and relationships of Warrenia comosa (Harvey) Kützing. Phycologia 10, 291–298.

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

Author: H.B.S. Womersley

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


Disclaimer Copyright Disclaimer Copyright Email Contact:
State Herbarium of South Australia
Government of South Australia Government of South Australia Government of South Australia Department for Environment and Water