Kentrophora pectinella (Harv.) S.M.Wilson & Kraft

Scientific Description

Habit and structure. Thallus deep red, to 12 cm tall, with percurrent primary axes 2.0–2.5 mm wide, bearing opposite lateral branches every 0.9–1.0 mm, these often unequal, with one or both branches reduced to a marginal spine. Distal branches 340–400 µm thick at the midrib, tapering to 200–250 µm in the alae, becoming thicker proximally with a prominent midrib. Branch apices curled, with 4 or 5 trichoblasts forming at branch apices, bearing spines abaxially, these to 350–500 µm long. Midrib visible from the surface. Trichoblasts to 900 µm long, dichotomously branched, with proximal thick-walled cells spherical to ellipsoidal, 45–65 µm diam. (including wall), more distal cells becoming elongate, 7–10 µm diam. Medulla with 2 or 3 layers of hyaline cells, one layer occupying most of the medulla, with cells 150–250 µm diam. in transverse section. Cortex with 2 or 3 layers of smaller pigmented cells, the outermost irregularly shaped in surface view, becoming longitudinally elongate, 25–75 µm long, 5–25 µm wide.

Reproduction. Reproductive structures not observed.

Distribution. Known from the Perth area in south-western Western Australia, north to Barrow Island and the Montebello Islands; also Caloundra, Qld, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island.

Habitat. epilithic in the shallow subtidal.

[After J.M. Huisman in Algae of Australia: Marine Benthic Algae of North-western Australia, 2. Red Algae: 519–520 (2018)]