Electronic Flora of South Australia Genus Fact Sheet

Genus STICTOSIPHONIA Hooker & Harvey in Hooker 1847: 483

Phylum Rhodophyta – Family Rhodomelaceae – Tribe Bostrychieae

Thallus dorsiventrally developed, apices usually curved, with prostrate and erect indeterminate axes bearing determinate laterals usually at regular intervals. Attachment by cladohaptera or peripherohaptera; epilithic or epiphytic. Structure. Apical cells prominent, pericentral cells 4–8, each dividing to form (3–) 4–5 tiers of cells, ecorticate or corticated. Branching mainly exogenous.

Reproduction: Gametophytes dioecious. Procarps formed in series of 3–9 on unspecialised polysiphonous determinate branches, with (4–) 5–6 pericentral cells per whorl, one (the supporting cell) bearing a (2–) 3-celled carpogonial branch and a group of 2–6 sterile cells, with the adjacent pericentral cells also producing a group of sterile cells. Carposporophyte with a short, branched gonimoblast and terminal carposporangia. Cystocarps subterminal, ovoid to subspherical, pericarp initiated post-fertilization, with 8–12 longitudinal filaments, becoming corticated. Spermatangia superficial on polysiphonous determinate branches, covering 5–50 or more axial cells.

Tetrasporangial stichidia on determinate laterals, 2–20 axial cells long, with 4–5 pericentral cells and tetrasporangia, protected by 2–3 cover cells which divide.

Lectotype species: S. hookeri (Harvey) Hooker & Harvey [= S. intricata (Bory) Silva].

Taxonomic notes: A genus of some 6 species, distinguished from Bostrychia by the pericentral tiers of 4–5 cells rather than 2.

References:

HOOKER, J.D. (1847). The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage. I. Flora Antarctica. Part II, Algae, pp. 454–502, Plates 165–194. (Reeve: London.)

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

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.

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