Ceramium

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Ceramium
Ceramium rubrum Helgoland.JPG
Ceramium virgatum
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
(unranked): Archaeplastida
Division: Rhodophyta
Class: Florideophyceae
Order: Ceramiales
Family: Ceramiaceae
Genus: Ceramium
Blume
Species

See list

Ceramium is a genus of Ceramium algae (or Rhodophyta). It is a large genus with at least 15 species in the British Isles. [1]

Contents

The fully corticated group previously referred to as Ceramium rubrum, an illegitimate name, is represented, in the British Isles by: Ceramium pallidum,Ceramium botryocarpum, Ceramium nodulosum and Ceramium secundatum. [1] [2]

Description

All species of Ceramium are small algae growing to no more than 30 cm (12 in) in length. They consist of a terete monosiphonous [3] axis of cells surrounded by smaller cells forming a cortex. In most species this a continuous cortex enclosing the axis, in others the cortical cells are arranged only in nodes at the junction of cells of the axes. The tips of the branches grow in a pincer-like manner. [4] Species in the genus show irregular branching and are attached by unicellular or branched rhizoids. [1]

Reproduction

The species is dioecious forming spermatangia and carpogonia on separate male and female plants. The fertilised carpogonium develops growing parasitically attached to the female plant. Tetraspores are born in the cortical bands. [1]

Distribution

Ceramium tenuicorne under epifluorescence microscope Red alga Ceramium tenuicorne.jpg
Ceramium tenuicorne under epifluorescence microscope

British Isles

Scotland: Orkney and Faroes, Shetland, Ross and Cromarty, Fife. [1] England and Wales: Pembroke, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, Sussex, Lincoln to Kent, Norfolk also the Channel Isles. Ireland: Cork, Kerry, Clare, Mayo, Waterford, Dublin, Donegal, [5] Antrim and Down. [1] [2]

World

Some species are probably cosmopolitan. Widely in north-west Atlantic, Iceland, Norway to Spain, Denmark, Netherlands, France, Portugal, Mediterranean, Azores, Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, USA - Newfoundland to New York, Australia. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Palmaria palmata</i> Species of edible alga

Palmaria palmata, also called dulse, dillisk or dilsk, red dulse, sea lettuce flakes, or creathnach, is a red alga (Rhodophyta) previously referred to as Rhodymenia palmata. It grows on the northern coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It is a well-known snack food. In Iceland, where it is known as söl[ˈsœːl̥], it has been an important source of dietary fiber throughout the centuries.

<i>Polysiphonia lanosa</i> Species of alga

Polysiphonia lanosa is a common species of the red algae (Rhodophyta) often to be found growing on Ascophyllum nodosum.

<i>Ceramium diaphanum</i> Species of alga

Ceramium diaphanum is a species of marine red algae.

Polysiphonia denudata is a small red alga, Rhodophyta, growing as tufts up to 20 cm long without a main branch axis.

<i>Polysiphonia elongata</i> Species of alga

Polysiphonia elongata is a small red marine algae in the Rhodophyta.

<i>Polysiphonia elongella</i> Species of algae

Polysiphonia elongella Harvey in W.J. Hooker is a branched species of marine red algae in the genus in the Polysiphonia in the Rhodophyta.

<i>Melanothamnus harveyi</i> Species of alga

Melanothamnus harveyi, Harvey's siphon weed, is a small marine red alga in the division of Rhodophyta.

<i>Polysiphonia nigra</i> Species of alga

Polysiphonia nigra is a species of marine alga in the division Rhodophyta.

<i>Ceramium botryocarpum</i> Species of alga

Ceramium botryocarpum is a small red marine alga in the Division Rhodophyta.

<i>Ceramium echionotum</i> Species of alga

Ceramium echionotum is a small marine alga in the division Rhodophyta.

Ceramium flaccidum is a small red marine alga in the Division Rhodophyta.

<i>Ceramium ciliatum</i> Species of alga

Ceramium ciliatum is a small marine red alga in the Division Rhodophyta.

<i>Ceramium cimbricum</i> Species of alga

Ceramium cimbricum is a small red alga in the division Rhodophyta.

Ceramium pallidum is a small marine alga. It occurs in waters off of Europe and Africa (Morocco).

Ceramium secundatum is a small marine red alga.

<i>Ceramium shuttleworthianum</i> Species of alga

Ceramium shuttleworthianum is a small marine red alga.

The taxon Ceramium siliquosum is a small marine alga. It belongs to the red algae genus Ceramium.

<i>Membranoptera alata</i> Species of alga

Membranoptera alata is a small red alga in the Rhodophyta.

<i>Codium bursa</i> Species of alga

Codium bursa is a green marine algae of medium size.

<i>Gymnogongrus griffithsiae</i> Species of seaweed

Gymnogongrus griffithsiae is a small uncommon seaweed.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Maggs, C.A. and Hommersand, M.H. 1993. Seaweeds of the British Isles. vol.1, Rhodophyta Part 3A Ceramiales. HMSO & Natural History Museum, London. ISBN   0-11-310045-0
  2. 1 2 Morton, O. 1994. Marine Algae of Northern Ireland. Ulster Museum. ISBN   0-900761-28-8
  3. Newton, L. 1931. A Handbook of the British Seaweeds. British Museum (Natural History)
  4. Bunker, F.StP.D. Maggs,C.A. Brodie, J.A. and Bunker, A.R. 2017 Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland. Second Edition, Wild Nature Press, Plymouth, UK ISBN   978-0-9955673-3-7
  5. Morton, O. 2003. The marine macroalgae of County Donegal, Ireland. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society27:3 - 164