Hypoglossum anomalum M.J.Wynne & D.L.Ballant.

Scientific Description

Habit and structure. Thallus with prostrate and erect leaf-like branches, to 6 mm tall, attached by a primary holdfast and at several points by solitary or clustered rhizoids arising from the midrib. Lateral branches mostly opposite, developmentally arising from the primary axis, but emerging from the alae at a point midway between the axis and the thallus margin, near the margin of the axial cortication. Blades linear-lanceolate, to 1.7 mm wide, with attenuate apices. Blade margins near apices with prominent slightly protruding wedge-shaped apical cells of second-order rows. Structure with all cells of second-order rows bearing third-order rows, all of the latter reaching the thallus margin. Blades monostromatic except for the slightly corticated midrib, the cortication extending 2 or 3 cells laterally from the axial filament.

Reproduction. Reproductive structures not observed.

Distribution. Widespread in tropical seas.

Habitat. Epizoic in the subtidal.

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