Hypoglossum bisporum Huisman & Showe M.Lin

Scientific Description

Habit and structure. Thallus erect, to 2 mm tall, with several branches arising from the base, simple or with 1 or 2 second-order branches arising from the midrib. Branches leaf-like, spathulate, 0.6–1.0 mm wide, with rounded or flattened occasionally indented apices and smooth margins. Structure with only some cells of second-order cell rows bearing third-order rows.

Reproduction. Bisporangia spherical, with a median division, 35–40 µm diam. when mature, arising in limited sori near the apices, the sori covering the midline, with sporangia arranged in 1 or 2 longitudinal lines on either side of the midrib; central sporangia more mature. Lateral pericentral cells involved in sporangium production.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality: North Maret Island, Western Australia.

Habitat. Epiphytic on Halimeda sp.

[After J.M. Huisman & S.-M. Lin in Algae of Australia: Marine Benthic Algae of North-western Australia, 2. Red Algae: 462–466 (2018)]