Polyides rotunda
| Polyides rotunda | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Clade: | Archaeplastida |
| Division: | Rhodophyta |
| Class: | Florideophyceae |
| Order: | Gigartinales |
| Family: | Polyidaceae |
| Genus: | Polyides |
| Species: | P. rotunda
|
| Binomial name | |
| Polyides rotunda C. A. Agardh (1822)
| |
Polyides rotunda is a species of small red marine alga in the family Polyidaceae.
Description
[edit]Polyides rotunda grows to 20 cm (7.9 in) in length, its cartilaginous, terete and branches two or three times dichotomously. The branches are about 2 mm (0.079 in) in diameter reaching a uniform height. The holdfast is disc like. In colour it is purplish red.[1][2]
Habitat
[edit]Generally epilithic in rock pools in the littoral and upper sublittoral.[1] Sand tolerant.[3]
Distribution
[edit]Generally distributed around Ireland, Great Britain, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.[4]
Reproduction
[edit]Polyides rotunda is dioecious. The spermatangial cells develop in swollen areas near the apices. Cystocarps develop near the apices.[1] The tetrasporangia are cruciate, that is cross-shaped.[5]
Similar species
[edit]Furcellaria lumbricalis (Hudson) Lamouroux is very similar but can be distinguished by the holdfast which has claw-like branches while that of Polyides being disc-like.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Dixon, P.S. and Irvine, L.M. 1977. Seaweeds of the British Isles Volume 1 Rhodophyta Part 1 Introduction, Nemaliales, Gigartinales British Museum (Natural History) ISBN 0-565-00781-5
- ^ Jones, W.E. 1962. A key to the genera of the British seaweeds. Field Studies 1 (4) pp1 - 32
- ^ Lewis, J.R. 1964 The Ecology of Rocky Shores. The English Universities Press Ltd.
- ^ Bunkern F.StP, D., Brodie, J.A., Maggs, C.A. and Bunker, Ann. R.2017. Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland. Second Edition. Wild Nature Press, Plymouth.UK.ISBN 978-0-9955673-3-7
- ^ Newton,L. 1931 A Handbook of the British Seaweeds. British Museum (Natural History)
- ^ Jones, E.W. 1962. A key to the genera of the British seaweeds. Field Studies volume 1 no 4.pp1 - 32