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Australian Systematic Botany Australian Systematic Botany Society
Taxonomy, biogeography and evolution of plants
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Diversity and systematics of Ptilophora (Gelidiaceae, Rhodophyta)

E. Tronchin A B D , J. J. Bolton A and R. J. Anderson C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Botany, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.

B Research Group Phycology, University of Ghent, 281 / S8 Krijgslaan, Ghent 9000, Belgium.

C Seaweed Research Unit, Marine and Coastal Management, Private Bag X2, Roggebaai 8012 South Africa.

D Corresponding author. Email: tronchin@uctgsh1.uct.ac.za

Australian Systematic Botany 19(4) 359-386 https://doi.org/10.1071/SB05034
Submitted: 21 October 2005  Accepted: 9 May 2006   Published: 25 August 2006

Abstract

Ptilophora Kützing (Rhodophyta) is an algal genus containing 16 species that are predominantly temperate and known mostly from deep subtidal habitats. The genus generally has an Indian Ocean distribution, although two species are found in the north-west Pacific, two in the south-west Pacific, and one in the Mediterranean. Observation of type specimens, specimens from type localities and a thorough review of literature on this genus was carried out to create a comprehensive review of Ptilophora and provide further insight into some poorly understood species. A key to the species in this genus and a distribution map are included, as well as a description and photographic plate of each species. The type species Ptilophora spissa (Suhr) Kützing, only collected once in history, is placed in synonymy with P. diversifolia (Suhr) Papenfuss, having been found to be an aberrant morphology of the latter species. An epitype is designated for P. diversifolia since the lectotype (a figure) cannot be used for detailed studies. Ptilophora beckeri Holmes is reassessed and confirmed to be an unusual reproductive morphotype of P. pinnatifida J. Agardh. Similarly, Phyllophora aegei Giaccone is reassessed and confirmed to be a synonym of Ptilophora mediterranea (H. Huvé) R.E. Norris. The cystocarpic phase of P. rumpii (Dickinson) R.E. Norris and the male phase of P. pterocladioides Andriamampandry are reported here for the first time, and for P. helenae (Dickinson) R.E. Norris and P. leliaertii Tronchin et De Clerck new data on their distributions are added.


Acknowledgments

Special thanks go to D.W. Freshwater (UNCW) for his mentorship; O. De Clerck, T. Schils, F. Leliaert, H. Verbruggen, H. Engeldow and E. Coppejans of the Research Group Phycology (GENT) for their assistance with facilities and taxonomic expertise; G. Kraft (MELU), J. Bryant (BM), S. Riebe (LD) and T. Trinder-Smith (BOL) for their assistance with herbarium collections and type specimens. This research has been funded by the National Research Foundation, Department of Environment and Tourism, South African Network of Coastal and Oceanographic Research (South Africa) and the Community of Flanders (Belgium).


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