| Genus: |
Anadyomene J.V. Lamouroux |
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Description: |
Anadyomene stellata consists of erect, delicate blades with ruffled edges forming densely packed clumps. Blades one cell thick, to 10 cm in height, bright to dark green in color; formed by veins of filaments radiating from base in fan-like branching pattern. Cells between veins arranged in parallel rows. Margins smoothly rounded, formed by small spherical cells. Similar to A. saldanhae which has cells between veins in random arrangement. Also similar to A. lacerata which has lacerated margins formed by elongated vein cells. Original publication: Agardh, C.A. (1823). Species algarum rite cognitae, cum synonymis, differentiis specificis et descriptionibus succinctis. Volumen primum pars posterior. pp. [vii-viii], [399]-531. Lundae [Lund]: ex officina Berlingiana.
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Thallus dark green, growing in mats or tufts, flabellate, ovate to reniform, 2–10 mm high and across, with 1–4 basal stipe cells attached by a cluster of slender rhizoids with occasional cross walls. Blade monostromatic, with a primary system of elongate-clavate cells bearing at their apices 3–6 similar but progressively smaller cells, with the interstices largely to entirely filled with smaller cells cut off laterally from the primary cells and joined to adjacent cells with a smooth attachment. Chloroplast closely reticulate, becoming fragmented, with rounded areas of variable size (the larger containing pyrenoids) joined by narrow connections. |
| Name History |
Adjective (Latin), stellate, with narrow divisions radiating from the center like the rays of a star (Stearn 1973). |
| Biogeography |
Widely distributed in the Mediterranean and tropical and sub-tropical coasts of Atlantic and of the Americas, and the Indo-Pacific, and Australia. Commonly found as a short mat in shaded intertidal areas, with larger plants subtidally. |
| Life Cycle |
Reproduction with isomorphic generations, the gametophytes dioecious, anisogamous and the sporophyte producing quadriflagellate zoospores (Mayhoub 1975), or reproducing by zoospores only (Jonsson 1962). |
| References |
Iyengar, M.O.P. & Ramanathan, K.R. (1940). On the reproduction of Anadyomene stellata (Wulf.) Ag. (Preliminary note). Journal of the Indian Botanical Society 19: 175-176. Jonsson, S. (1962). Sur la reproduction de l'Anadyomene stellata (Wulf.) Ag. de la Méditerranée. Compte Rendu Hebdomadaire des Séances de l’Académie des Sciences. Paris. 255: 1983-1985. Mayhoub, M.H. (1975). Reproduction sexuée et cycle du développement de l'Anadyomene stellata (Wulf.) Ag. de la Méditerranée orientale. Compte Rendu Hebdomadaire des Séances de l’Académie des Sciences. Paris. Série D 280: 587-590. |
| Habitat: |
Commonly found on rocks or other firm surfaces in the lower intertidal zone . |
| Type information: |
Basionym: Ulva stellata Wulfen Type locality: Adriatic Sea (Silva, Basson & Moe 1996: 755). Type: BM (Littler & Littler 1991: 112). |
