New Zealand Journal of Botany abstract
Reproductive structures in Curdiea coriacea (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta)
including the first report of spermatangia for the genus
WENDY A. NELSON
GLENYS A. KNIGHT
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
P. O. Box 467
Wellington, New Zealand
Abstract Curdiea coriacea (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta)
is endemic to New Zealand, with its distribution restricted to northern North
Island. It has been collected relatively infrequently because of its subtidal
habitat and the patchy distribution of populations. Commercial interest in this
agarophyte species has raised questions about its reproduction and life
history. Curdiea coriacea is found to possess an isomorphic alternation
of generations. This report describes reproductive morphology of
carposporophyte, tetrasporophyte, and spermatangial plants. This is the first
record of spermatangia for any member of this genus. The formation of
spermatangial nemathecia distinguishes Curdiea coriacea from all other
species in the Gracilariaceae for which spermatangia have been described.
Tetrasporangia are also produced in nemathecia, in common with members of the
closely related Australasian genus Melanthalia. In C. coriacea
the carposporangia are formed in long files, the cystocarp cavity is completely
filled by gonimoblast tissue, and there is no sterile vacuolated gonimoblast
tissue.
Keywords Curdiea coriacea; spermatangia;
tetrasporangia; carposporophyte; Gracilariales; Rhodophyta; New Zealand; North
Island; endemic
B96037
Received 1 July 1996; accepted 17 October 1996
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