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Description: |
Usally the blades are 10-12 cm long and broad, but plants with 15 cm long and to 20 cm broad blades may be found; the frond has three layers of cells except near the inrolled edge where two cell layers occur; the hair lines alternate on both sides of the blade and the dark lines of spongia are found just above every second hair-line; plants tufted, 5-10 cm tall, the blades 5-20 cm broad rounded or split into narrower portions, the lower parts stalk like and stupose, usually rather moderately calcified on the upper surface, 2 cells and 50-60 micron thick near the growing margin, 3 cells and 75-110 micron thick below, where the cells of the middle layer may be taller than those of the surfaces, or even 4 cells thick near the stipe, hair lines alternating on the 2 faces, the sterile zones 2-4mm wide, alternating with fertile zones 1.5-3.0 mm wide sporangia in discontinous bonds 0.5-1.5mm wide, usually median between alternate hair lines and without induria, 90-125 micron diameter, gametophytes dioecious, antheridia in 1-2 bands in alternate zones. |
| Biogeography |
Warm E and SE Atlantic (Canary Is to Angola); SW Atlantic (Brazil); Caribbean; W Pacific and Indo-Pacific (Philippines, Vietnam); Pacific Is; Indian Ocean; Australia. |
| Uses and compounds |
Provide pharmacological activity - antibiotic |
| References |
Braune, W. (2008). Meeresalgen. Ein Farbbildführer zu den verbreiteten benthischen Grün- Braun- und Rotalgen der Weltmeere. pp. [1]-596, 266 pls. Ruggell: A.R.G. Gantner Verlag. Dawes, C.J. & Mathieson, A.C. (2008). The seaweeds of Florida. pp. [i]- viii, [1]-591, [592], pls I-LI. Gainesville, Florida: University Press of Florida. Kraft, G.T. (2009). Algae of Australia. Marine benthic algae of Lord Howe Island and the southern Great Barrier Reef, 2. Brown algae. pp. [i-iv], v-vi, 1-364, 107 figs. Erratum of fig. 73 from vol. 1. Canberra & Melbourne: Australian Biological Resources Study and CSIRO Publishing. Norris, J.N. (2010). Marine algae of the Northern Gulf of California: Chlorophyta and Phaeophyceae. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 94: i-x, 1-276. Womersley, H.B.S. (1987). The marine benthic flora of southern Australia. Part II. pp. 481, 169 figs, 1 table, 8 plates, 4 maps. Adelaide: South Australian Government Printing Division. |
| Habitat: |
On rock and other firm substrata (mangrove-roots), in calm or only moderately wave-exposed locations in the intertidal, found in up to 14 m depth. |
| Type information: |
Basionym: Zonaria gymnospora Kützing Type locality: "St. Thomas" (Herb. Sonder) [St Thomas, Virgin Islands] (Billard 1985: 29). Type: MEL 583380 (Womersley 1987: 217). Taxonomic notes: John et al. (2004) cite Padina howeana Børgesen and Padina variegata (J.V. Lamour.) Hauck. as synonyms of this species. Nomenclatural notes: Børgesen (1941: 48) cites this species as Padina gymnospora (Kützing) Vickers. |
