Home / Rhodophyceae / Macroreds / Rhodomela
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Name derivation:
Rhodomela= Gr. rhodon: a rose, rosey red + melas: dark confervoides = L. confervoides: composed of loose filaments; like the genus Conferva
Classification:
Rhodomela C. Agardh 1822; 10 of 85 species descriptions are currently accepted taxonomically (Guiry and Guiry 2014). Order Ceramiales; Family Rhodomelaceae
Morphology:
Algae are variable in form, soft in younger parts and wiry in older specimens; to 40 cm tall, pale rose-red when young, brownish-black when older, and attached by a discoid disc. Main axes usually with numerous second order branches. All axes polysiphonous, with the apical cell visible near tips, and with 6-7 pericentral cells that are soon corticated. Lower axes have a few basal branches versus densely branched tips. Branchlets cylindrical or tapering but not contracted at bases. Tetrasporangia tetrahedral, in two rows. Spermatangia in the surface layer of branchlets, occurring in clusters. Cystocarps lateral on branchlets, oval to flask-shaped.
Similar genera:
Odonthalia and Polysiphonia
Habitat:
Common to occasional; algae are pseudo-perennials with new growth in spring and axes denuded by summer. Growing on stones and shells in lower tide pools and to 15 m.
References:
Agardh, C.A. 1822. Species algarum rite cognitae, cum synonymis, differentiis specificis et descriptionibus succinctis. Volumen primum pars posterior. pp. [v-vi], 169-398. Lundae [Lund]: ex officina Berlingiana. Guiry, M.D. and G.M. Guiry 2014. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 30 May 2014. Taylor, W. R. 1957. Marine Algae of the Northeastern Coast of North America. Revised edition. Univ. Michigan Press., Ann Arbor, ix + 509 pp.