- Reference
- J.Phycol. 44:727 (2008)
- Conservation Code
- Not threatened
- Naturalised Status
- Native to Western Australia
- Name Status
- Current
Scientific Description
Habit and structure. Thallus deep red, 1–2 mm tall, with a limited to extensive prostrate axis attached to the substratum by unicellular rhizoids arising from periaxial cells and their derivatives. Erect axes alternately and complanately branched every 4–7 cells in primary axes, every (6–) 7–9 cells in lateral branches, occasionally with adventitious branches. Nodes with 4 (–5) periaxial cells, each producing 3 cells, 1 basipetal by a horizontal division and 2 acropetal by oblique divisions from the corners of the periaxial cell. Basipetal cell remaining undivided or producing 1 or 2 cells by horizontal or shallowly oblique divisions. Acropetal cells dividing several times obliquely. Axial cells ellipsoidal to cylindrical, to 110 µm long, 35–50 µm diam. Nodes 60–75 µm long, 50–75 µm wide. Vesicular cells spherical, occasionally produced from upper nodal cells.
Reproduction. Spermatangia arising on and completely covering nodes. Carposporophytes terminal or lateral, the subtending axis continuing growth, with up to 4 involucral branches, with 2 or 3 sequentially maturing gonimolobes, these composed of angular carposporangia 25–35 µm wide at maturity. Tetrasporangia 1 or 2 per node, when single often in longitudinal adaxial series causing the bearing filament to arch, tetrahedrally divided but often appearing decussate, subspherical, 40–60 µm diam. (including the wall), borne on periaxial cells, strongly protruding but almost completely enveloped by acropetal filaments.
Distribution. Possibly widely distributed in warmer seas, but its true range is difficult to determine as many collections were probably attributed to G. flaccida in error.
Habitat. Epiphytic on larger algae in the intertidal and subtidal.
[After J.M. Huisman in Algae of Australia: Marine Benthic Algae of North-western Australia, 2. Red Algae: 418–419 (2018)]