Structure and reproduction of Spongites wildpretii sp. nov. (Corallinaceae, Rhodophyta) from the Canary Islands, with observations and comments on S. absimile comb. nov.
Autor
Afonso Carrillo, Julio![Autoridad ULL Autoridad ULL](/xmlui/themes/Mirage2/images/autoridades/autoridad.png)
Fecha
1988Resumen
On the basis of a critical study of the holotype specimen, Lithophyllum absimile Foslie &
Howe is transferred to the genus Spongites Kützing, and plants previously reported from the
Canary Islands as Lithophyllum absimile or Neogoniolithon absimile (Foslie & Howe) Cabioch are described as a new species: Spongites wildpretii Afonso-Carrillo. The new species is
described anatomically and compared with the holotype specimen of Lithophyllum absimile and plants from Japan assigned to L. absimile. Spongites wildpretii is distinguished from the
holotype of L. absimile by the lack of excrescences, by the less-developed perithallium and by
the small size of cells. It is distinguished from the Japanese plants mainly by reproductive
attributes (conceptacle dimensions, conceptacle roof structure and occurrence of columella). A detailed reproductive account of S. wildpretii is provided with special reference to
carposporophyte ontogeny. The diagnostic value of the post-fertilization characters as accessory attributes for segregating Spongites from related genera is discussed. Collapse of the conceptacle roof and the regeneration of perithallial tissue of the tetrasporangial and
carposporangial conceptacle chambers also are described.