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 Genus Fact Sheet

Genus HOLOTRICHIA Schmitz in Schmitz & Falkenberg 1897: 450

Phylum Rhodophyta – Family Rhodomelaceae – Tribe Lophothalieae

Thallus erect, radially branched, heavily corticated below, upper branches clothed with simple trichoblasts and adventitious monosiphonous filaments; holdfast massive, of coarse, branched, fibres. Structure monopodial, axial cells each with a rhodoplastic trichoblast and developing 7 pericentral cells, some dividing transversely, soon obscured in transverse section among similar inner cortical cells and rhizoids. "Gland cells" present in trichoblasts and also in the outer or inner cortical cells. Cells probably uninucleate.

Reproduction: Gametophytes dioecious. Procarps borne on basal (or near) cells of trichoblasts. Carposporophytes with a basal fusion cell and branched gonimoblast filaments bearing clavate terminal carposporangia. Cystocarps ovoid, without a neck, pericarp ostiolate, lightly corticated. Spermatangial organs developed on trichoblasts.

Tetrasporangia produced in lesser branches with normal trichoblasts, spirally arranged, one per segment, with 3 cover cells.

Type species: H. comosa (Harvey) Schmitz in Schmitz & Falkenberg 1897: 450.

Taxonomic notes: The single species of Holotrichia is distinguished by 7 pericentral cells, some dividing transversely, with a thick cortex on lower axes and massive holdfasts, by simple trichoblasts and adventitious filaments, by the presence of "gland" cells in the trichoblasts and cortex, and by having spirally arranged tetrasporangia in lesser branches.

References:

SCHMITZ, F. & FALKENBERG, P. (1897). Rhodomelaceae. In Engler, A. & Prantl, K., Die natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien. T.1. Abt. 2, pp. 421–480. (Englemann: Leipzig.)

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

Author: H.B.S. Womersley & M.J. Parsons

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.


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