Division | Ochrophyta |
Class | Phaeophyceae |
Order | Dictyotales |
Family | Dictyotaceae |
Thalli epiphytic and on rocky substrata. Thallus small, light brown in colour, 3-6 cm in height, attached to the substratum by rhizoidal small disc. Thallus usually sprawling at the base and only distally erect at upper portion; thallus branched dichotomously to irregular with rounded apices. Branches up to 4.5mm wide, forking at the interval of 5-10 mm, margin entire, more or less wavy, margin with prominent rib. Thallus composed of 4 to 7 layers of cells in the midrib region, the lamina shows 2 layers of cells and the margins of the lamina (rib) composed of 4 to 6 layers of cells.
Cells of the midrib region is small, thick walled, quadrate to rounded, 15-30 µm large. The surface cells in the midrib and lamina are large and thin walled, more or less rectangular, 40-70 µm long and 30-45 µm broad. Cells in marginal rib is small, thick-walled cells similar to midrib and measure 15-28 µm. Hairs arranged in groups, reproductive bodies irregularly scattered and occurring on both the surface of the thallus.
Ecology
Thalli epiphytic or lithophytic and growing in deeper pools of the lower mid-littoral region.
Distribution in India
Andaman Islands; Laccadive-Maldive; Chinna Muttam, Kanyakumari, Tuticorin, Thiruchendur, Pamban Idinthakarai, (Tamil Nadu); Gujarat (Untawale et al., 1983).