The morphology and life history of dermocorynus montagnei crouan frat halymeniaceae

Abstract

Dermocorynus montagnei Crouan frat., a red seaweed previously known only from a few dredged specimens collected in the Bretagne region of France, mostly in the last century, has been found growing subtidally on small stones at two sites in Galway Bay. Tetrasporangial and cystocarpic plants are present during most of the year and an account of the structure and development of these is given. It is concluded from these studies that Dermocorynus Crouan frat. is correctly placed in the Halymeniaceae Bory (=Cryptonemiaceae Harv.) and is best characterized genetically by its unusual habit rather than by any of its reproductive characters. Culture studies show that the species has a Polysiphonia-type life history. © 1982 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.