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Polysiphonia fibrata

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Polysiphonia fibrata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Clade: Archaeplastida
Division: Rhodophyta
Class: Florideophyceae
Order: Ceramiales
Family: Rhodomelaceae
Genus: Polysiphonia
Species:
P. fibrata
Binomial name
Polysiphonia fibrata
(Dillwyn) Harvey in W.J.Hooker

Polysiphonia fibrata is a species of Polysiphonia that grows as small dense tufted and finely branched marine alga in the Rhodophyta.

Description

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The branches of P. fibrate are numerous and much interwoven forming tufts up to 20 cm long. They are fine, terete, cylindrical, erect and dull brownish-red in colour. The branches consist of a central axis with 4 pericentral cells all of the same length as the axial cells. The branches become corticated near the base. Rhizoids and trichoblasts are abundant.[1]

Reproduction

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The plants are dioecious. Spermatangia are borne near the tips of the branches. The cystocarps are clearly shortly stalked. Tetrasporangia are formed in the branches near the tips.[1]

Habitat

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To be found on rock, limpets, mussels and on other algae in rock pools at mid-tide and low water.[1]

Distribution

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Common around Britain including Shetland and Ireland.[2][1][3] Also recorded from Spain,[1] and France.[2]

Note

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Other species are similar to P. fibrata and difficult to distinguish.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Maggs, C.A. and Hommersand, M.H. 1993. Seaweeds of the British Isles Volume 1 Rhodophyta Part 3A Ceramiales The Natural History Museum, London ISBN 0-11-310045-0
  2. ^ a b Morton, O. 2003. The marine macroalgae of County Donegal, Ireland. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society. 27: p.85)
  3. ^ Hardy, F.G. and Guiry, M.D. 2003. A Check-list and Atlas of the Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland. The British Phycological Society ISBN 0-9527115-16