Gastroclonium

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Gastroclonium reflexum
Scientific classification
(unranked) Archaeplastida Phylum: Rhodophyta Class: Rhodophyceae Order: Rhodymeniales Family: Champiaceae Genus: Gastroclonium
Binomial name
Gastroclonium reflexum (Chauvin) Kützing

Gastroclonium reflexum is a small red alga (Rhodophyta) reported from Ireland and Britain.

Contents 1 Description 2 Reproduction 3 Ecology 4 Distribution 4.1 England 4.2 Wales 4.3 Ireland 4.4 World 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External links

[edit] Description

This small algae grows to about 6 cms long, the fronds grow from a branched holdfast are reflexed and form haptera where they meet the rock. The branches are hollow, terete to 6 cms long and constricted by septa giving a beaded appearance. The secondary branching is dichotomous, distichous. In colour they are dark purplish red. ^[1] The species is very similar to Chylocladia verticillata with which it may be confused. ^[2]

[edit] Reproduction

Spermatangia, cystocarps and polysporangia have been recorded.^[1]

[edit] Ecology

Epilithic or epiphytic in the littoral or sublittoral.

[edit] Distribution

British Isles to Portugal; Canary Isles and Eastern Mediterranean. ^[1] [1]

[edit] England

Cornwall, Devon, Sussex. ^[1]

[edit] Wales

Pembroke, Glamorgan.^[1]

[edit] Ireland

First recorded from Ireland by Harvey as Chylocladia reflexa Leorm. and published in 1846^{[3] [4][1]}

Lough Swilly - specimens collected W.Sawers in 1854 nand now preserved in the Ulster Museum (BEL) (F7058; F7059 and F7060) were redetermined as Chylocladia verticillata by Guiry as Chylocladia verticillata ^[5]

[edit] World

Channel Islands: [2]

Spain and Portugal: [3]

Mediterranean: [4]

Africa: Namibia, Morocco and South Africa [5]

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} L. M. Irvine (1983). Seaweeds of the British Isles, Volume 1, Part 2A. British Museum (Natural History), London. ISBN 0-565-00871-4. 
2. ^ Morton, O. 2003. The marine algae of County Donegal, Ireland. Bull. Ir. biogeog. Soc. 27:3 - 164
3. ^ Harvey, W.H. 1846. Phycologia britannica... Reeve and Benham, London.
4. ^ Guiry, M.D., Cullinane, J.P and Whelan, P.M. 1979. Notes on Irish marine Algae - 3. new records of Rhodophyta from the Wexford coast. Ir. Nat. J. 19: 304 - 307
5. ^ Guiry, M.D., Cullinane, J.P. and Whelan, P.M. 1979. Notes on Irish marine algae - 3. new records of Rhodophyta from the Wexford coast. Ir. Nat. J. 13: 304 - 306

[edit] Further reading

[edit] External links

http://www.algaebase.org/speciesdetail.lasso?species_id=445&-session=abv3:51909EC30802716127sVj3EDC9C7