Algae. 1998; 13(1): 85-99.

Morphology and Phenology of Champia expansa Yendo and C. compressa Harvey (Rhodymeniales, Rhodophyta) from Korea

Mi-Ra Park, In-Kyu Lee

Department of Biology, Seoul National University

Morphology and phenology of the two species1 of Champia, C. expansa Yendo and C. compressa Harvey from Korea were studies. Their vegetative and reproductive structures agreed well with the characteristics of the genus. The cortex consists of one layer of large cells and a discontinued layer of small cells. The medulla consists of longitudinal filaments and one-layered septa. Spermatangia are superficial on mother cells originated from small cortical cells. Procarp bears a four-celled carpogonial branch and single two-celled auxiliary cell branch. Carposporangia are produced from the terminal cells of multicellular gonimoblast filaments. Tetrasporangia are developed intercalarily from large cortical cells and divided tetrahedrally. C, expansa, growing in subtidal zone, is erect, dichotomously or subdichotomously branched, and flabellately compressed. C, compressa, growing in lower intertidal to subtidal zones, is rather prostrate, alternately or oppositely branched, and tubularly compressed. The both species occur November to August, and become maximum in size during March and May. The present investigation confirms that Champia bifida Okamura, currently known in Japan and Korea, is a later synonym of C. compressa.

Keywords : Champia bifida, C. compressa, C. expansa, morphology, phenology