Algae. 1990; 5(2): 117-122.

A Taxonomic Reappraisal of Antithamnionella breviramosa (Dawson) Wollaston (Rhodophyta, Ceramiaceae)

Gwang-Hoon Kim, In-Kyu Lee

Department of Biology, Seoul National University

Antithamnionella breviramosa (Dawson) Wollaston was collected for the time in Korea. The morphology of vegetative and reproductive structures was investigated with field collected and laboratory cultured plants. The species accorded well with diagnostic characters by curved axial apices, position of gland cells and features of carposporophyte, but was distinguished from the other species of the genus in having regularly three whorl-branchlets. In laboratory culture, the number of whorl-branchlets was constant, so that Antithamnionella breviramosa seemed to be rather distinct species showing a good natural entity. Therefore, it is not agreeable that this species is conspecific with Antithamnionella elegans (Berthold) Priced et John.

Keywords : Antithamnionella breviramosa, taxonomy, culture study, Rhodophyta