Field and morphological observations of Gelidium longipes (Gelidiales, Rhodophyta), a rare endemic red alga from northern New Zealand

Abstract

Field observations of the little known, New Zealand endemic red alga Gelidium longipes (Gelidiales, Rhodophyta) indicate that this species has a highly restricted distribution in northern New Zealand. Prior to this work G. longipes had not been collected for 50 years. This study located two closely situated and very small populations in the Bay of Islands; extensive fieldwork in comparable sites to the north and south of this region has not located any further sightings of this species. Material housed in the Agardh herbarium, Lund, is designated as the lectotype of this species and duplicate material is identified in New Zealand herbaria. This is the second species of New Zealand endemic Gelidium that has been found to have a very restricted distribution; G. allanii has been reported previously from isolated and restricted populations in northern Northland. © 2003 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.