Algae. 2003; 18(2): 107-119.
Taxonomic Reassessment of the Genus Polysiphonia (Rhodomelaceae, Rhodophyta): Morphology and Reproduction of Neosiphonia decumbens and N. harlandii
Myung-Sook Kim*
Research Institute for Basic Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Korea
ABSTRACT
Neosiphonia is separated from the traditionally well known genus Polysiphonia (Rhodomelaceae, Rhodophyta) and 12 species includes in Korea. In this study, the vegetative and reproductive developments of two Neosiphonia species, N. decumbens (Segi) M.S. Kim et I.K. Lee and N. harlandii (Harvey) M.S. Kim et I.K. Lee, are reinvestigated. N. decumbens is diagnosed by following combination of the characters: plants 1-3 cm high, dwarf, decumbent, main axes indistinct, irregularly branched in dichotomous manner, and alternately or secundly ramified with wide angles above. N. harlandii is distinguished by the features: plants 4-8 cm high, usually solitary and saxicolous, erect, densely corticated at base of distinct main axes, rather irregularly alternate in branch, and with cicatrigenous branchlets developed numerously on every part of frond. The two species share typical characteristics of the genus Neosiphonia, such as a base attached by unicellular rhizoids, cut off by cross wall, pericentral cells in 4, trichoblasts moderately developed near the apex of branches, leaving persistent scar-cells, tetrasporangia arranged in a spiral series, procarps with 3-celled carpogonial branch, and spermatangial branches arising as a primary branch of trichoblast. Taxonomy of the two Neosiphonia in regard to Polysiphonia is discussed.
Keywords :
morphology, Neosiphonia, N. decumbens, N. harlandii, Polysiphonia, reproduction, Rhodomelaceae,
