Jania pulchella (Harv.) H.W.Johans. & Womersley

Scientific Description

 Habit and structure. Thallus medium to dark red to red-brown, 2–6 cm high, branches compressed below, terete above. Fronds erect, more or less complanately branched, intergenicula dimorphic, flat and broad below (like Cheilosporum)and terete above (like Jania). Lower intergenicula compressed and bilobed, lobes pointed to broadly rounded (occasionally very slight), intergenicula (300–)400–1000(–1500) µm long and (200–)500–1000(–1250) µm broad. Upper intergenicula terete or subterete (300–)500–1200(–1500) µm long and (80–)100–250(–300) µm in diameter. Genicula (60–)80–110(–200) µm long. Holdfasts stoloniferous, stolons terete to slightly compressed, 150–300 µm in diameter; usually epiphytic on larger algae, possibly epilithic. Structure. Lower intergenicula of (3–)4–9 tiers of medullary cells each (80–)100–140(–160) µm long; upper intergenicula of (3–)5–9(–14) tiers of medullary cells each 80–160(–200) µm long.

Reproduction. Gametangial thalli dioecious. Female conceptacles amphoroid with short necks, externally 350–450 µm long and 350–400 µm in diameter; carposporangia subspherical, 60–80 µm in diameter. Male conceptacles terminal, elongate-ovoid to fusiform; externally (400–)550–650 µm long and 200–280 µm in diameter, internally 140–240 µm in diameter, canal 70–100 µm long. Tetrasporangial conceptacles bearing 2–3(–4) terete branches, only occurring in terete branches which arise from apices of flat intergenicula or adventitiously from their surfaces; external diameter 450–500 µm, internal diameter 100–350 µm; tetrasporangia 150–300 µm long and 35–80 µm in diameter.

Distribution.Houtman Abrolhos, W. Aust., to Lawrence Rocks, Portland (probably to Gabo I.), Vic.

Habitat. J. pulchella occurs in deep water on rough-water coasts, epiphytic on various algae.

[After Womersley, Mar. Benthic Fl. Southern Australia IIIB: 309–310 (1996)]