Seaweed Res. Utiln., 31 (1 & 2): 7- 10, 2009
Two new brown algal species from the Family Ralfsiaceae
(Ectocarpales, Phaeophyceae) from Kerala, India
2
P. SOPHJAMMALNETIAR1 AND M.V.N. pAN1J(KAR
Department of Botany, FMN. College, Kollam- 691 001 , Kerala, India
1
Centrefor Biodiversity of Microjlora, S.N. College, Kollam- 691 001, Kerala, India
2
ABSTRACT
Two new species from the Family Ralfsiaceae , Hapalospongidion thirumullavaramensis
and Pseudolithoderma thangasseriensis , collected from the coast ofKerala are described
and illustrated. The genus Pseudolithoderma is new to India . The important characters of
the common genera of the family are also discussed in detail.
Introduction
have not been so far reported from the coasts
of the main land of the India . Now it is known
that the Family Ralfsiaceae is represented
by 15 genera (Hollenberg, 1969). In the
present study new species of the genera
Hapalospongidion and Pseudolithoderma
have been reported.
The Order Ralfsiales was proposed
by Nak.amura ( 1972) to accommodate all brown
crustose algae with three families : Ralfsiaceae,
Lithodermataceae and Nemoderrnataceae. So
far only the members of the Farnily Ralfsiaceae
were reported from the Indian Ocean. Most of
Materials and Methods
the workers, however do not accept this order
A number of crustose brown algal
and retain the Family Ralfsiaceae under
samples were scraped out with a sharp knife,
Ectocarpales. The Ralfsiaceae is characterised
from the intertidal and subtidal rocks of
by a group of crustose brown algae ,
Thangasseri and Thirumullavaram belt of
essentially pseudoparenchymatous in
Kollam coast in the months of January 1999
construction, with isomorphic generations or
and December 2000 during low tides. The
with one type of plant body in the cycle. From
samples were preserved in plastic tubes
India , so far only one genus Ra/fsia is known
containing 5% seawater formalin for further
with its four species (Silva et al., 1996).
investigations. The materials were examined
Krishnamurthy (1986) reported Mesospora
under a research microscope and
schmidtii Weber van Bosse from Andaman
measurements of different parts were taken.
Islands , which is a synonym of
Camera lucida diagrams were drawn to show
Hapalospongidion schmidtii (Silva et al.,
the structural details of both vegetative and
1996). The species of the crustose genera,
reproductive structures.
Hapalospongidion and Pseuso/ithoderma
1iammal Nettar and M. V N. Panikkar
\
9
200J.lm
9
..''
.
• ''
1-8,10
25J.lm
. Pseudolithodenna thangasseriensis sp. nov. 1. Closely adjoinedfilaments with terminal sporangia;
2-8. Sporangia at diffirent stages ofdevelopment; 9-10. Hapalospongidion thirumullavararnensis
sp. nov; 9. Habit-circular crust, 10. Filaments with sporangia
Two new brown algal species from the Family Ralfsiaceae (Ectocarpales, Phaeophyceae)
8
8
Ralfs;aceae Farlow, 1881
Latin diagno,i<:
Key to the genera:
Thalli crustacei tenues atro- brunnei,
1-2 cm in diametro, marginaliter cresscens,
discus basalis constans ex 9-12 Jlm stratis
cellularum a quibus filaments erecta !axe
ordinata sine conjugatione Iaterali; celulae
stratorurn basalium cellulae rectangulares 6llJlm longae et 6.2-7.5 Jlm latae. Filamenta
erecta cumsque ad 85 cellulis, cellulae 6.2-12.5
Jlm latae, sporangia intercalaria parietibus
crassibus singular vel in catensis 28-42 Jlm
Ionga, 9-15 Jlm Iatae, projuctionibus lateralis,
collii similis formatibus ad regionema
plurangiarurn. sporangia unilocularia non visa.
1. Sporangia intercalary.. .... Hapalospongidion
1. Sporangia terminal. ....... Pseudolithoderma
'11apalospongidion
Saunders
Plants epiphytic, circular or irregular
brownish crusts , can be observed by
scraping the thallus from the substratum, erect
filaments arise from a radiating multilayered
disc and loosely arranged, easily separated
by applying pressure, plurangia intercalary,
unilocular sporangia basal and stalked.
Hapalospongidion thirumullavaramensis sp.
nov. (Figs. 9-1 0)
-
--
Thallus crustose, thin, dark brown,
lithophytic, 1-2 cm in diameter, growth
marginal, basal disc composed of9-12layers
of cells from which erect filaments arise. Erect
filaments loosely arranged without any lateral
union, cells ofthe basal layers rectangular, 611 Jlm long and 6.2-7 .5 Jlm broad, erect
filaments with up to 85 tiers of cells, cells 7-16
Jlm long and 6-13 Jlm broad, apical filaments
hemi-spherical, 7.5-15.0 Jlm long and 6.2-12.5
Jlm long ; sporangia intercalary, thick walled,
singly or in chains, 28-42 Jlm in length and 915 Jlm in breadth, collar -like lateral projections
formed at the region of plurangia, unilocular
sporangia not observed.
Holotype : PTK 12, collected by Sophiammal
Nettar from Thirumullavaram, near Kollam,
January 28, 1999, deposited in the Department
ofBotany, F. M. N. College, Kollam, Kerala.
This species is different from the type
material Mesospora schmidtii Weber-van
Bosse [ = Hapalospongidion schmidtii
(Weber-van Bosse) Silva comb nov.] in the
presence of the number of cells in the basal
disc and the size of the apical cells and also
the presence oflateral collar-like extensions.
Holotypus: PKT 124, lectus a Sophiamrnal
Nettar from Thirurnullavaram, prope Kollam,
die 28-01-1999. Positus in herbario section is
botanicae. F. M. N. College, Kollam, Kerala.
Pseudolithoderma Svedelius
Horizontally expanded, noncalcarious, crustose brown alga, adhering
finnly to the substratum without rhizoids, with
closely adjoined, sparsely branched; erect
filaments arising from a relatively indistinct
basal layer primarily one cell thick; plurangia
terminal on the erect filaments in extensive
sori, without apical cells; unilocular sporangia
when present terminal on erect filaments.
Pseudolithoderma thangasseriensis sp. nov.
(Figs. 1-8)
Thalli 2-8 cm in diameter, dark brown,
compactly arranged, cells rectangular, 6. 5-12.5
Jlm x 9.4-12 .5 Jlm in size, filaments erect,
chloroplasts numerous per cell, unilocular
sporangia unknown, plurangia terminal, 28-38
Jlm long and 9-16 Jlm broad; 4-8 tiers of cells,
sori extensive and irregular, hairs not
observed.
Holotype: PKT 125 , collected by Sophiammal
Nettar from Thangasseri, near Kollam on 2812-2000. Deposited in the Department of
Two new brown algal species from the Family Ralfsiaceae (Ectocarpales, Phaeophyceae)
Botany, F. M. N. College, Kollam, Kerala.
10
Holotypus: PKT 125, lectus a Sophiammal
Nettar, ad locum Thangasseri, Prope Kollam,
die 28-12-2000, positus in sectionsis
botanicae, F. M. N. College, Kollam, Kerala.
an Ectocarpus- type of life history, discoidtype of germling development and cells
containing a single parietal chloroplast without
pyrenoid. Most of the workers do not accept
the status of an order and retained the Family
Ralfsiaceae under the Order Ectocarpales
(Silva et al. , 1996). About fifteen genera of
crustose brown algae have been described
and all these forms were now included
under a single Family Ralfsiaceae .
Pseudolithoderma differs from Ralfsia only
in the presence of the number of chloroplasts.
The common genera found in this Family
include Ralfsia, Hapalospongidion ,
Pteroderma and Pseudo/ithoderma.
Discussion
References
Nikamura (1972) recognized the Order
Ralfsiales to include three families: Ralfsiaceae,
Lithodermataceae and Nemodermataceae on
the basis of the position of the reproductive
structures. According to him in the family
Lithodermataceae reproductive organs are
terminal, while in the other two families the
reproductive organs are intercalary or lateral.
Again in the Family Ralfsiaceae plurangia
are lateral and terminal. However in
Nemodermataceae unilocular sporangia are
intercalary while plurilocular sporangia lateral.
The criteria in recognizing the families on the
basis of the position of the sporangia has been
questioned by a number of phycologists
(Hollenberg, 1969). It is a fact that all the three
families shared common characters such as
Hollenberg, G I. 1969. An account ofRalfsiales
(Phaeophyta) of California J. Phyco/., 5:
290-301.
Latin diagnosis:
Thalli 2-8 cm lati, atro- brunnei,
cellulae rectangulares confertim ordinatae, 6.
5-12.5 J.Lm x 9.4-12.5 J.Lm, filamenta erecta,
chromatophora numerosa per cellula,
sporangia unilocularia ignota, plurangia
terminalia 28-38 J.Lm longa et 9-16 J.Lm latae,
cumm 4-8 cellulis , sori extensi irregularesque,
pili non obserbati.
Krishnamurthy, V. and M. Baluswami 1986.
On Mesospora schmidtii Weber -van
Bosse (Ralfsiaceae, Phaeophyceae) , Curr.
&i., 55:571-572.
Nakamura, Y. 1972. A proposal on the
classification of the Phaeophyta.
Contributions to the systematics and
benthic marine algae of North Pacific.
Kube: Jap. Soc.Phyco/., 147-155.
Silva, P.C., P.W. Basson and R. L Moe 1996.
Catalogue of the Benthic marine algae
of the Indian Ocean. University of
California Press, Berkeley. 1259 pp.