Home / Rhodophyceae / Microreds / Balliella |
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Name derivation: |
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After Anne E. Ball, an Irish phycologist; -iella = smaller (than Ballia). |
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Classification: |
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Balliella Itono and Tak. Tanaka 1973; 9 of 10 species descriptions are currently accepted taxonomically (Guiry and Guiry 2016). |
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Morphology: |
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Short irregularly branched terete axes prostrate at the base, corticated below with rhizoids. Branchlets flattened in opposite pairs. Gland cells spherical on basal cells of branchlets. |
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Similar genera: |
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Antithamnion, from which most species have been moved to Balliella. |
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Habitat: |
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Epiphytic on larger algae and on coral, and epilithic, generally several meters deep. Found in southern Japan, the Caribbean Sea, eastern Pacific and eastern Australia (Ibid.). More recently also found in Florida, Bermuda, Maldives and Seychelles Islands, Baja California, Pacific Mexico, the Galapagos Islands and New Zealand (Dawes and Mathieson 2008). |
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References: |
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Dawes, C.J. and A.C. Mathieson 2008. Seaweeds of Florida. University Press of Florida (592 pp). Guiry, M.D. and G.M. Guiry 2016. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 19 September 2013. Itono, H. & Tanaka, T. (1973). Balliella, a new genus of Ceramiaceae (Rhodophyta). Botanical Magazine, Tokyo 86: 241-252, 23 figs. |