Abstract
SUMMARY Members of the genus Sargassum can be variable both inter- and intraspecifically. Original descriptions are often vague and open to interpretatio n, are frequently without accurate illustrations, and may even be based on parts of one or a few specimens, with no account of seasonal variation. This paper presents the results of a detailed qualitative and quantitative morphometric study of three species of Sargassum from Reunion Rocks, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Selected taxonomically important traits v^ere investigated for temporal and interthallus variability using coefficients of variation as estimators of variation/sta bility. Potentially useful, stable traits are highlighted. The following traits were found to be of value in distinguishin g the Sargassum species examined with relatively low levels of overall instability {viz. S. elegans Suhr, Sargassum incisifolium (Turner) C. Agardh and Sargassum sp.l): Primary lateral diameter, blade length, blade width, main axis diameter, branch/blade spacing and blade length:width ratio. Main axis length and the number of branches per main axes showed a relatively high overall degree of instability.
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