Rhipidosiphon Montagne, 1842

Holotype species: Rhipidosiphon javensis Montagne

Original publication and holotype designation: Montagne, [J.F.] C. (1842). Prodromus generum specierumque phycearum novarum, in itinere ad polum antarcticum...ab illustri Dumont d'Urville peracto collectarum, notis diagnosticis tantum huc evulgatarum, descriptionibus verò fusioribus nec non iconibus analyticis iam iamque illustrandarum. pp. [1-]16. Parisiis [Paris]: apud Gide, editorem.

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Description: Thallus small, about 2.5 to 40 mm tall, consisting of a holdfast of fine rhizoids, monosiphonous uncorticated stipe to about 3 mm. long which may be calcified near its apex, and fan-shaped, unistratose, calcified terminal blade composed of dichotomously branched siphons. Siphons of blades do not anastomose, although their calcified sheaths may be fused, obliterating demarcations. The monosiphonous, partially calcified stipe distinguishes Rhipidosiphon from Udotea. Reproduction is by biflagellated zooids discharged terminally from uncalcified or lightly calcified, sometimes swollen zooidangia formed by extension of siphons of blade. In R. javensis, the only species for which there are data, zooidangia measure to about 3.8 mm. long and 310 µm diameter, while non-reproductive siphons are about 50-70 µm diameter. In R. javensis sexual reproduction is holocarpic (cf. Halimeda).

Information contributed by: L. Hillis. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2022-02-28 by M.D. Guiry.

Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.

Gender: This genus name is currently treated as masculine.

Comments: Geographic distribution mostly tropical; currently it is known for the Indo-Pacific extending eastward to Hawaii, and the western Atlantic. Rhipidosiphon is epilithic in sand flats and on the reef crest, and grows to at least -20 m

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Contributors
Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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=41792

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 28 February 2022. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 26 April 2024