Three species of Mastophora (Rhodophyta: Corallinales, Corallinaceae) in the tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean: M. rosea (C. Agardh) Setchell, M. pacifica (Heydrich) Foslie, and M. multistrata sp. nov
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Date
2009
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International Phycological Society
Abstract
Three species of Mastophora (Corallinaceae, Corallinales, Rhodophyta) were found in extensive studies of nongeniculate
coralline algae in various areas of the tropical Indo-Pacific, including French Polynesia, Fiji, Ryukyu Islands
(Japan), and Taiwan. Two species are delicate and leafy but are distinguishable on morphological grounds. Mastophora
rosea plants are taeniform, dichotomously branched, and weakly calcified and have rolled margins. Their thalli show
very little secondary growth, with only occasional small round patches at the surface. Tetrasporangial and
carposporangial conceptacles are very high (330–640 mm) and dome-shaped to almost spherical. Mastophora rosea
plants collected during this study stand out in the water because of their bluish-purple colour. Mastophora pacifica has
more strongly calcified thalli that are irregularly branched, with abundant secondary growth and the development of
loosely attached, crispy layers. Tetrasporangial and carposporangial conceptacles are conical (280–550 mm high).
Thallus colour in M. pacifica varies substantially depending on where it is growing, ranging from violet brown to dark
red to greyish ruby, but are mostly pale-pink to reddish-purple in their submerged living state. Mastophora multistrata
sp. nov. plants are hard and robust. Their thalli are made up of tightly packed layers that are evident only in section.
Tetrasporangial conceptacles are generally low (315–490 mm high) and dome-shaped. In their living state, M. multistrata
plants are usually deep-purple plum coloured.
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Citation
Keats, D.W, et al. (2009). Three species of Mastophora (Rhodophyta: Corallinales, Corallinaceae) in the tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean: M. rosea (C. Agardh) Setchell, M. pacifica (Heydrich) Foslie, and M. multistrata sp. nov. Phycologia, 48(5): 404–422