Neogoniolithon brassica-florida (Harv.) Setch. & L.R.Mason

Scientific Description

Habit and structure. Thallus encrusting to lumpy, to 1000 μm thick, monomerous in construction. Medulla multilayered, plumose; cells fusing laterally, 12–30 μm long, 10–15 μm diam. Cortex multilayered; cells 11–35 μm long, 12–17 μm diam. Cortical filaments ending in an intercalary initial cell that subtends a rounded epithallial cell 6–8 μm long, 10–15 μm diam. Intercalary initials generally shorter than the cortical cells that they produce. Trichocytes scattered throughout the upper cortex, usually solitary; uppermost cell of trichocyte 8–49 μm long, 5–24 μm diam., not evident deeper in the cortex, although some larger cells can represent morphogenesis of trichocytes.

Reproduction. Tetrasporangial conceptacles raised, conical, not confined to the ends of branches, on encrusting specimens visible to naked eye, 600–1000 μm outside diam. Tetrasporangia 30–90 μm long, 110–165 μm diam. Other reproductive structures not observed.

Distribution. Occurs in temperate and tropical seas.

Habitat. Epilithic.

[After R.A. Townsend & J.M. Huisman in Algae of Australia: Marine Benthic Algae of North-western Australia, 2. Red Algae: 127–128 (2018)]