Morphological Variations of Hizikia fusiformis (Harvey) Okamura (Sargassaceae, phaeophyta) from the Western Coast of the North pacific

Algae > Volume 12(2); 1997 > Article

Algae 1997;12(2): 57-72.

Yong-Pil Lee, Shintoku Kamura

Department of Biolog,College of Natural Science, Cheju National University, Depatment of Biology, College of Science, University of the Ryukyus

ABSTRACT

The plants of Hizikia fusiformis show the facies varying in different localities although a number of intermediate forms between both extremes may occur. The plants of Anin, the east coast of Korea are comparatively shorter than those of Cheju or Okinawa, bearing clavate to pyriform vesicles, and agree with H. Ffusiformis var. clavigera. The plants of Seongsan, Cheju Island bear terete and filamentous blades (subulate blades)and fusiform vesicles. There is no infraspecific taxon proposed by Okamura (1936) coincided with the plants of Seongsan. The plants of Hansu, Cheju Island are closely similar in form to those of Yonabaru, Okinawa having Phylloid blades, and fusiform or crested vesicles on branches. The infraspecific taxa of Hizikia fusiformis are discussed on the validity of their taxonomic rank.

Key words: Hizikia fusiformis,morphological variation, taxonomy