Ceramium

Ceramium is a genus of red algae (or Rhodophyta). It is a large genus with at least 15 species in the British Isles.[1]

Ceramium
Ceramium virgatum
Scientific classification
(unranked): Archaeplastida
Division: Rhodophyta
Class: Florideophyceae
Order: Ceramiales
Family: Ceramiaceae
Genus: Ceramium
Blume
Species

See list

The fully corticated group previously referred to as Ceramium rubrum, an illegitimate name, is represented, in the British Isles by: Ceramium pallidum, Ceramium botryocarpum, Ceramium nodulosum and Ceramium secundatum.[1][2]

Description

All species of Ceramium are small algae growing to no more than 30 cm (12 in) in length. They consist of a terete monosiphonous[3] axis of cells surrounded by smaller cells forming a cortex. In most species this a continuous cortex enclosing the axis, in others the cortical cells are arranged only in nodes at the junction of cells of the axes. The tips of the branches grow in a pincer-like manner.[4] Species in the genus show irregular branching and are attached by unicellular or branched rhizoids.[1]

Reproduction

The species is dioecious forming spermatangia and carpogonia on separate male and female plants. The fertilised carpogonium develops growing parasitically attached to the female plant. Tetraspores are born in the cortical bands.[1]

Distribution
Ceramium tenuicorne under epifluorescence microscope

British Isles

Scotland: Orkney and Faroes, Shetland, Ross and Cromarty, Fife.[1] England and Wales: Pembroke, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, Sussex, Lincoln to Kent, Norfolk also the Channel Isles. Ireland: Cork, Kerry, Clare, Mayo, Waterford, Dublin, Donegal,[5] Antrim and Down.[1][2]

World

Some species are probably cosmopolitan. Widely in north-west Atlantic, Iceland, Norway to Spain, Denmark, Netherlands, France, Portugal, Mediterranean, Azores, Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, USA - Newfoundland to New York, Australia.[1]

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References
  1. Maggs, C.A. and Hommersand, M.H. 1993. Seaweeds of the British Isles. vol.1, Rhodophyta Part 3A Ceramiales. HMSO & Natural History Museum, London. ISBN 0-11-310045-0
  2. Morton, O. 1994. Marine Algae of Northern Ireland. Ulster Museum. ISBN 0-900761-28-8
  3. Newton, L. 1931. A Handbook of the British Seaweeds. British Museum (Natural History)
  4. Bunker, F.StP.D. Maggs,C.A. Brodie, J.A. and Bunker, A.R. 2017 Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland. Second Edition, Wild Nature Press, Plymouth, UK ISBN 978-0-9955673-3-7
  5. Morton, O. 2003. The marine macroalgae of County Donegal, Ireland. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society 27:3 - 164


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