Morphological examination of sympatrically growing specimens referable to Champia parvula collected as seagrass epiphytes has resulted in the recognition of a new Champia species. The new species bears resemblance to type specimens of C. parvula, differing mainly in branching pattern (opposite vs. typically alternate) and branch origin (between the septa vs. nodal region), number of axes arising from holdfasts (4–7 vs. 1 or more), and monoecious vs. dioecious gametophytes. On the basis of analyses of small ribosomal subunit and rubisco large subunit (rbcL) gene sequences, the new species was distinct from its sympatric partner. The new species clades most closely with C. vieillardii, C. compressa, and what is tentatively referred to as C. parvula from Puerto Rico. Furthermore, rbcL sequence comparison between C. vieillardii and C. compressa supports their recognition as distinct species.
Examination of specimens referable to Champia
salicornioides from offshore algal plains in southwest Puerto Rico (Caribbean Sea) resulted in recognition of algae with different branching origins. Plants with branching from the septal regions are referred to a new species, Champia harveyana. Segregation of the new species is supported by 18S and rbcL sequence analyses as well as differences in internal morphologies. In the new species, walls of older portions are reinforced by a proliferation of longitudinal medullary filaments that line the interior of the cortical layer and nodal septa. Additionally, nodal regions in older parts become thickened by a proliferation of cells outside the original cortical layer. A lectotype of Champia salicornioides is designated.
Genera in the Rhodymeniaceae Harvey that have a hollow thallus lacking diaphragms have been placed in Chrysymenia J. Chrysymenia has traditionally been defined by a lack of internal rhizoids and with the only solid portion of the thallus limited to the stipe. Botryocladia has been differentiated from Chrysymenia by the presence of larger, solid axes. Our results suggest that on the basis of vegetative characters alone, the true Chrysymenia clade contains specimens that exclusively produce gland cells directly on unmodified medullary cells, whereas Botryocladia and Cresia may or may not cut off gland cells from modified gland-supporting medullary cells. On the basis of comparative rbcL and SSU sequence analyses and morphological data, the hollow, gelatinous species Chrysymenia enteromorpha Harvey from the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, and Chrysymenia wrightii Harvey described from the northwest Pacific Ocean are newly transferred to the genus Botryocladia as Botryocladia enteromorpha (Harvey) comb. nov. and B. wrightii (Harvey) comb. nov., respectively.
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