- Reference
- Algae of Australia: Marine Benthic Algae of North-western Australia, 2. Red Algae 403, Fig. 116E-I (2018)
- Conservation Code
- Not threatened
- Naturalised Status
- Native to Western Australia
- Name Status
- Current
Scientific Description
Habit and structure. Thallus light red, with indeterminate prostrate axes attached by pigmented multicellular holdfasts arising as extensions from periaxial cells, and simple or once-branched erect axes to 2 mm tall, with straight apices. Axial cells of prostrate axes 40–45 μm diam. (including wall) [L:B 1.5–2.5]. Axial cells of erect axes 30–45 μm diam. [L:B 1–2 (shorter near apices)]; nodes to 35–50 μm diam. Periaxial cells 4, each obliquely cutting off 2 acropetal cells. Basipetal development absent or obliquely cutting off 1 or 2 cells, if only 1 cell this often appearing as a pseudoperiaxial.
Reproduction. Tetrasporangia arising acropetally on periaxial cells, 1 or 2 per node, spherical or subspherical, 30–35 μm diam., cruciately divided, with an involucre arising from the bearing cell and covering 70–90% of the tetrasporangium. Other reproductive structures not observed.
Distribution. Known from the Dampier Archipelago and Rowley Shoals, north-western Australia.
Habitat. Epiphytic in the subtidal.
[After J.M. Huisman in Algae of Australia: Marine Benthic Algae of North-western Australia, 2. Red Algae: 403 (2018)]