Lithothamnion canariense was described by FOSLIE
(1906) from plants collected by SAUVAGEAU at Tene
rife (Canary Islands). LEMOINE (1928) transferred this
species to the genus Mesophyllum LEMOINE.
In this work, the type collection of L. canariense
and new material from the Canary Islands are exam
ined in the light of recent taxonomic critera. The
plants studied are non-geniculate; possess a core tis
sue distinctly coaxial; have fusions between cells of
contiguous filaments; have multiporate tetrasporangial
conceptacles; and certainly belong to the genus Me
sophyllum as currently delineated by WOELKERLING &
IRVINE (1986).
