- Reference
- Nova Hedwigia 62:212 (1996)
- Conservation Code
- Not threatened
- Naturalised Status
- Native to Western Australia
- Name Status
- Current
Scientific Description
Habit and structure. Thallus 1–2 mm tall, with prostrate and erect axes, attached by clusters of 1–3 rhizoids per node. Erect axes sparingly dichotomously branched, with straight apices. Axial cells near the apex c. 40 µm diam., initially broader than long; when mature 55–60 µm diam. [L:B c. 1.25]. Nodal cortication with 6 or 7 periaxial cells, each initially cutting off 2 acropetal cells that can themselves cut off 2 further cells. Periaxial cells also producing 2 basipetal cells each. Mature nodes with 3 or 4 cell layers.
Reproduction. Tetrasporangia spherical to ellipsoidal, 1 per node, 40–45 µm diam., 45–50 µm long, cruciately divided and strongly protruding. Nodal cells forming an involucre that covers the basal 50–75% of the sporangium. Other reproductive structures not seen.
Distribution. Known from the Caribbean region, eastern North America, the Pacific coast of Central America, the Mediterranean Sea, West Africa, South Africa, the Indian Ocean, northern Japan and north-western Australia.
[After J.M. Huisman in Algae of Australia: Marine Benthic Algae of North-western Australia, 2. Red Algae: 392 (2018)]