- Reference
- Schmitz & Falkenberg, Nat.Pflanzenfam. [Engler & Prantl] I(2):449 (1897)
- Conservation Code
- Not threatened
- Naturalised Status
- Native to Western Australia
- Name Status
- Current
Scientific Description
Habit and structure. Thallus epiphytic (parasitic?) on Polysiphonia decipiens and Micropeuce feredayae, forming small, pale, subspherical thalli 1–3 mm across on the host branches. Attachment obscure, by rhizoids penetrating through the host cortex. Structure. Base of thallus pseudoparenchymatous, producing erect terete branches 1–2 mm long and 60–120 µm in diameter, simple or occasionally branched apart from the trichoblasts. Apical cells dome-like, 8–10 µm in diameter, axial cells producing trichoblasts and 5 pericentral cells each 8–16 µm in diameter and L/D 2–4, ecorticate, segments L/D 0.4–0.8(–1). Trichoblasts 200–400 µm long, branched, basal cells isodiametric and 30–40 µm in diameter, upper cells elongate and 6–8 µm in diameter. Cells uninucleate; rhodoplasts absent from most cells, occasionally present and elongate to ribbon-like.
Reproduction. Gametophytes dioecious. Procarps borne on a lower cell of trichoblasts, with a 4-celled carpogonial branch and a sterile branch, surrounded by a pre-fertilization pericarp. Carposporophyte with a slight basal fusion cell and short, branched gonimoblast with elongate-clavate carposporangia 20–30 µm in diameter. Cystocarps ovoid, 400–700 µm in diameter; pericarp ostiolate, 2(–3) cells thick, ecorticate apart from odd small cells, main outer cells isodiametric to laterally elongate, 20–25 µm across. Spermatangial organs replacing trichoblasts, elongate-ovoid to lanceoid, 100–180 µm long and 50–80 µm in diameter, with 1–2 sterile basal cells but no sterile apical cell, and with 4–6 axial cells each with probably 3 pericentral cells cutting off outer spermatangia. Stichidia simple or occasionally branched, transformed from vegetative branches, terete, 0.5–1 mm long and 120–180 µm in diameter, bearing trichoblasts. Tetrasporangia opposite in each segment, decussately arranged, 40–75 µm in diameter, with 2 cover cells.
Distribution.The E coast of Gulf St Vincent, S. Aust.
[After Womersley, Mar. Benthic Fl. Southern Australia IIID: 495–497 (2003)]