Ceramium

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Ceramium
Ceramium gracillimum var. byssoideum 100 µm  basal part showing rhizoids (arrow)
Ceramium gracillimum var. byssoideum 100 µm basal part showing rhizoids (arrow)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Rhodophyta
Class: Florideophyceae
Subclass: Rhodymeniophycidae
Order: Ceramiales
Family: Ceramiaceae
Genus: Ceramium

Ceramium is a genus of red algae in the Rhodophyta. It is a large genus with at least 15 species in the British Isles. [1]

Contents

[edit] Description

All species of Ceramium are small algae growing to no more than 30 cm (12 in) in length. They consist of a terete axis of cells surrounded by smaller cells forming a cortex. In most species this a continuous cortex enclosing the axis, in others the cortical cells are arranged only in nodes at the junction of cells of the axes.[1]Species in the genus they show irregular branching and are attached by unicellular or branched rhizoids.

[edit] Reproduction

The species is dioecious forming spermatangia and carpogonia. The fertilized carpogonium develops growing parasitically attached to the female plant. Tetraspores are born in the cortical bands.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Maggs, C.A. and Hommersand, M.H. 1993. Seaweeds of the British Isles. vol.1, Rhodophyta Part 3A Ceramiales. HMSO & Natural History Museum, London. ISBN 0 11 310045 0

[edit] External links

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