Morphology of the Caribbean Alga: Goniolithon improcerum Foslie et Howein Foslie (Corallinaceae, Rhodophyceae)

Townsend, R.A. and Adey, W.H. (1990) Morphology of the Caribbean Alga: Goniolithon improcerum Foslie et Howein Foslie (Corallinaceae, Rhodophyceae). Botanica Marina, 33 (1). p. 99.

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Abstract

The morphology of Goniolithon (Hydrolithon) improceriam Foslie et Howe in Foslie is described from the type and more recent collections of Caribbean material. The species shows a conceptacle development in which the conceptacle is formed before the initiation of sporangia. Certain basal cells within the conceptacle produce spotangial initials as well as cavity cells. The sporangial initials in turn produce more than one tetrasporocyte. Trichocyte/megacyte differentiation as described which has necessitated a redefinition of terminology used for trichocyte differentiation in the Corallinaceae. Attempted placement of Goniolithon improcerum in a number of genera with similar vegetative and reproductive characters, shows, that further investigations of these genera are necessary, before this species can be placed accurately.