Rhodomelopsis Pocock, 1953
Holotype species: Rhodomelopsis africana Pocock
Original publication and holotype designation: Pocock, M.A. (1953). South African parasitic Florideae and their hosts. 1. Four members of the Rhodomelaceae which act as hosts for parasitic Florideae. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Botany 55: 34-47, 9 figs, pls 5-9.
Request PDFDescription: Thalli comprised of a bushy erect system of branches having exogenous alternate distichous branching; attached to the substratum by a group of prostrate rhizomatous branches; dorsiventral orientation of prostrate branches interpreted by Pocock (1953) as secondarily derived. All vegetative branches polysiphonous, monopodial, with straight apices, and with 7 pericentral cells becoming covered with cortical cells within a few segments of branch apices. Most secondary branches unbranched or sparsely branched a few times; distal branching of main axes sometimes corymbose, branchlets having falcate apices. Trichoblasts absent except on procarpial branches. Proximal parts of older branches often are bare except for calciform determinate branchlets or broken branchlets in some. Reproductive branches formed in distal regions often falcate, in lateral somewhat corymbose fascicles; uncorticated, but some form a cortex in later stages of development. Cystocarps on short, calcariform branchlets, sometimes borne singly but often in lax fascicles; spheroidal and each with a small, non-protruding ostiole. Male fascicles corymbose, spermatangial capitula cylindrical and spirally borne on the branchlets but with a tendency toward secund arrangement. Tetrasporangia borne singly in each segment and in a straight row in the branch; stichidia falcate, often densely fasciculate, the fertile branches sometimes branching once or twice. Older parts of stichidia often contorted by unequal cortication.
Information contributed by: R.E. Norris. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2010-10-07 by M.D. Guiry.
Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.
Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Schneider, C.W. & Wynne, M.J. (2007). A synoptic review of the classification of red algal genera a half a century after Kylin's "Die Gattungen der Rhodophyceen". Botanica Marina 50: 197-249.
Comments: Intertidal, on the east coast of southern Africa. Hommersand (1963) considered Rhodomelopsis to be related to Pterosiphonia because of a tendency for alternate distichous branching and absence of vegetative trichoblasts. This relationship is questionable until further studies have been made on anatomy of growth which should include development of germlings.
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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera,
organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA)
and intended to be published in CD format.
These AlgaeBase descriptions are now being continually updated, and each current contributor is identified above.
The PSA and AlgaeBase warmly acknowledge the generosity of all past and present contributors and particularly the work of Dr Parker.
Descriptions of chrysophyte genera were subsequently published in J. Kristiansen & H.R. Preisig (eds.). 2001. Encyclopedia of Chrysophyte Genera. Bibliotheca Phycologica 110: 1-260.
Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=40833
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 07 October 2010. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 18 April 2024
