In the present paper a new fresh water red alga Granufilum riuularis Zhao gen. et sp. nov. is described on the basis of the materials collected from Wuyanling, Taishun County, Zhejiang Province in the summer of 1985. Its systematic position is discussed. The type specimen is deposited in the Herbarium of the Department of Biology, Wenzhou Normal College.
Granufilum riuularis sp. nov. is characterized by its thallus microscopic, filamentous, truly branched and monoaxial, without creeping filaments. Chromatophore annular, with 1 - 3 pyrenoids and with intercellular protoplasmic connection. Trichome and individual cell with conspicuous gelatinous sheath.
In the chantrasia stage, the apex of the trichome repeatedly branched forming a purplish-brownish globose gelatinous body; filaments of uniserial cells, 8 – 10 μm, globose cells 6 – 8 μm diam. Main filaments and its branches equal in width. Mature thallus olive-green, with multiserial cells, main filaments conspicuous, 37 – 70 μm wide, cells globose-ellipsoidal, 16 – 25 μm diam., asexual reproduction by monospores, sexual reproduction by carpospores, growing bn the rocks in flowing water.
The new genus, Granufilum is similar to the genus Audouinella in microscopic, purplish-brownish or olivegreen, filamentous, truly branched thallus, asexual reproduction by monospore and sexual reprocuction by carpospore. It is different from Audouinella in the absence of the gonimoblast filaments, the trichomes and individual cellus conspicuous gelatinous sheath, the shape of the globose or oblate cells, annular chromatophore, 1 - 3 pyrenoids, carpospores metamorphosea from vegetative cells, and three different morphological thallus in its life history. |