Observations on Kylinia Rosulata From S.W. England

Abstract

A description is given of the minute epiphytic red alga Kylinia rosulata Rosenv. from collections made in the Plymouth area, and from old herbarium material. The diagnostic characters of this and related species are discussed.The minute epiphytic red alga Kylinia rosulata (order Nemalionales, sub class Florideophycidae) was first described by Rosenvinge (1909) from dried specimens of Sporochnus pedunculatus (Huds.) Ag., collected from the Northern Kattegat. Kylinia was observed on the terminal assimilatory filaments of the supporting plant. Since the original description, this small plant has had a somewhat confused history from both the taxonomic and nomenclatural points of view. Feldmann(1963) has recently summarized the available data, and has verified the validity of the genus and species as originally described by Rosenvinge (see also Feldmann, 1958). K. rosulata is characterized by the possession of short prostrate filaments arising from a single attaching cell, each cell containing a parietal chromatophore, and with male plants bearing a hyaline hair-like body—called the ‘androphore’ by Rosenvinge (1909) and ‘spermatocystophore’ by Feldmann (1958).