Studies on the Mastophora–Lithoporella complex (Corallinaceae, Rhodophyta)

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Abstract
A comparative study of the type species of Mastophora and Lithoporella (Corallinaceae, Rhodophyta) indicates that the two genera cannot be delineated reliably using attributes of the vegetative thallus. Thallus form is influenced by the nature of the substrate, and X-ray micro-analyses show that calcification can vary considerably from plant to plant. Vegetative development in both genera is effected from a primary meristem and from two distinct secondary meristems. Perithallial tissue is produced only in discrete patches from secondary internal meristems. Branches develop from both primary and secondary meristems; the latter arise dorsally, grow out over, and become superimposed upon the subtending thallus layer. Contiguous cell fusions occur between cells of adjacent hypothallial and perithallial filaments, and adjunctive cell fusions occur between cells of non-adjacent filaments. Auto-endophytic fusions between two plants were not observed. Attachment of the thallus to the substrate is effected by hypothallial cell adhesion and/or occasional rhizoids. Trichocytes occur in both species. The naming and characterization of thallus meristems in the Corallinaceae also is considered in relation to results obtained during this study.