Description of spermatangial thalli and mixed-phase in Polysiphonia confusa (Rhodomelaceae, Rhodophycota)

Abstract

THE SPERMATANGIAL PHASE AND THE MIXED PHASES (TETRASPORANGIA AND CYSTOCARPS) ON THE SAME THALLUS IN POLYSIPHONIA CONFUSA HOLLENBERG (RHODOMELACEAE, RHODOPHYCOTA) ARE DESCRIBED FOR THE FIRST TIME. SPERMATANGIAL THALLI ARE IMPORTANT TO CHARACTERIZE AND COMPARE THIS SPECIES WITH OTHERS FROM THE GENUS POLYSIPHONIA. HABIT, VEGETATIVE, AND REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT HAVE BEEN EXAMINED IN PLANTS OF THIS SPECIES FROM THE INTERTIDAL ZONE OF SALDAMANDO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO. BECAUSE OF ITS SMALL SIZE, THIS SPECIES HAS BEEN OVERLOOKED IN THE MEXICAN PACIFIC COAST RESULTING IN A SMALL NUMBER OF RECORDS FOR THIS TAXON.