New terminology for sympodial growth in the Ceramiales (Rhodophyta)

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Abstract
Sympodial branching is a broad term describing a form of branching that occurs widely in the plant kingdom. It is expressed in different plant groups in various ways according to the basic structure of the plant, but it generally depends upon the activity of a series of determinate branches, the lower parts of which successively form the main axis of the plant. ''Ramisympodial branching'' and ''cellulosympodial branching'' are proposed as terms to describe the 2 types of sympodial branching that occur in algae. In ramisympodial branching, development of a given axis ceases and further growth of the plant is from new branches initiated in an intercalary position. In cellulosympodial branching, the apical cell itself initiates a determinate lateral branch and the lateral cell or branch formed by the subapical cell carries on development of the thallus axis. Crouanioid red algae, and a number of other types, form characteristic ramisympodial thalli, whereas dasyaceous red algae are of the cellulosympodial type.