Palisada perforata (Rhodomelaceae, Ceramiales) from the Mexican Caribbean

Abstract

PALISADA PERFORATA WAS ORIGINALLY DESCRIBED FROM TENERIFE (CANARY ISLANDS; SPAIN). THIS SPECIES HAS A WIDE DISTRIBUTION IN TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL ZONES OF THE EASTERN ATLANTIC OCEAN; BUT IN THE WESTERN ATLANTIC THERE IS ONLY A DOUBTFUL RECORD FOR VENEZUELA AND BRAZIL. THIS SPECIES PRESENTS ALL TYPICAL FEATURES OF THE GENUS PALISADA; BEING CHARACTERIZED BY TURF-LIKE GROWTH; THE PRESENCE OF ARCUATE AND DECUMBENT BRANCHES WITH ERECT BRANCHES DISPOSED UNILATERALLY. IN THE PRESENT PAPER WE PROVIDE A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VEGETATIVE AND TETRASPORANGIAL STRUCTURES. THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF P. PERFORATA IN THE WESTERN ATLANTIC OCEAN WAS AMPLIFIED WITH A NEW RECORD IN THE MEXICAN CARIBBEAN.