Anadyomene reticulata Askenasy

Scientific Description

Habit and structure. Thallus erect, green, flabellate, 2–4 mm tall and broad, attached to the host thallus by vigorous rhizoids arising from the proximal ends of cells in the basal part of the plant (and occasionally more distal parts). Rhizoids unicellular, irregularly bent, with thick walls, growing downwards along the walls of primary axial cells, at the substratum dividing into thinner filaments terminated by irregular coralliform lobes. Growth acropetal, complanate, at the apices forming 3 or 4 subequal axes, the central pair slightly larger than the laterals. Branch apices anastomosing on contact with nearby branches by formation of a thick cellulose ring, resulting in a loose net. Interstitial cells lacking. Cells slightly clavate, to 600 μm long and 200 μm diam., with numerous chloroplasts and pyrenoids.

Distribution. The type was originally described from Dirk Hartog Island, W.A., but the species appears not to have been collected subsequently from near the type locality. Otherwise reported from Easter Island, Taiwan and several localities in the tropical Pacific, but these possibly represent other taxa.

Habitat. Epiphytic on larger algae.

[After Huisman & Leliaert, Algae of Australia: Mar. Benthic Algae of North-western Australia, 1. Green and Brown Algae 37 (2015)]