Melanothamnus harveyi

Melanothamnus harveyi
Scientific classification
Clade:	Archaeplastida
Division:	Rhodophyta
Class:	Florideophyceae
Order:	Ceramiales
Family:	Rhodomelaceae
Genus:	Melanothamnus
Species:	M. harveyi
Binomial name
	Melanothamnus harveyi; (Bailey) Díaz-Tapia & Maggs
Synonyms
	Polysiphonia harveyi Bailey

Melanothamnus harveyi (Polysiphonia harveyi), Harvey's siphon weed,^[1] is a small marine red alga in the division of Rhodophyta.

Description

Melanothamnus harveyi is a small marine alga which grows in tufts no more than 10 centimetres (3.9 in) high. The erect branches are formed by a central axis surrounded by four perecentral cells of the same length. A cortex may develop by cells growing downwards in the grooves between the perecentrals. Latteral branches are usually dense. The holdfast is a disk of downgrowing filaments from which further erect branches develop. The general appearance is very variable.^[2]

Reproduction

This species is dioecious, meaning that individuals either have male or female reproductive systems. Spermatangial axes develop on trichoblasts. The cystocarps are globular borne on wide stalks. Tetrasporangia occur in series near the tips of the branches.^[2]

Habitat

Melanothamnus harveyi grows epiphytically on other algae as well as on artificial material.^[2]

Distribution

This species can be found in England, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, France, Denmark and the east coast of North America.^[2]^[3]

References

^ Bunker, F.StP. D., Brodie, J.A., Maggs, C. and Bunker, A.R. 2017. Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland. Second Edition, Wild Nature Press, Plymouth, UK ISBN 978-0-9955673-3-7
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Maggs, C.A. and Hommersand, M.H. 1993. Seaweeds of the British Isles Volume 1 Rhodophyta Part 3A Ceramiales The Natural History Museum, London ISBN 0-11-310045-0
^ Morton, O. 2003. The marine macroalgae of County Donegal, Ireland. Bulletin of the Irish biogeographicaln Society no. 27: pp3 - 164

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[Bunker_2017-1] Bunker, F.StP. D., Brodie, J.A., Maggs, C. and Bunker, A.R. 2017. Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland. Second Edition, Wild Nature Press, Plymouth, UK ISBN 978-0-9955673-3-7

[Maggs_93-2] Maggs, C.A. and Hommersand, M.H. 1993. Seaweeds of the British Isles Volume 1 Rhodophyta Part 3A Ceramiales The Natural History Museum, London ISBN 0-11-310045-0

[3] Morton, O. 2003. The marine macroalgae of County Donegal, Ireland. Bulletin of the Irish biogeographicaln Society no. 27: pp3 - 164

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