Developmental morphology and taxonomy of Medeiothamnion flaccidum (Hooker f. & Harvey) comb. nov. (Ceramiaceae, Rhodophyta) from South America

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Abstract
Callithamnion flaccidum Hooker f. & Harvey is transferred to the genus Medeiothamnion based on vegetative and reproductive morphology, and the species is lectotypified. Development of the carposporophyte is described. After fertilization the carpogonium fuses either directly or by means of a broad cytoplasmic bridge to the supporting cell. The supporting cell functions as the auxiliary cell and produces a transversely elongate gonimoblast initial. Each of about seven gonimolobes borne on the gonimoblast initial bears about fifteen carposporangial branches which cleave obliquely into two carposporangia. Inner involucral branches produced by four sterile cells surround the carposporophyte. The hypogenous cell may or may not bear a large-celled prefertilization involucral branch. and occasionally after fertilization one or two small-celled involucral branches similar to the inner involucral branches may be produced. The type species of the genus, M. sanctacrucense Pujals is synonymous with M. flaccidum.

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