Ceratodictyon variabile (J.Agardh) R.E.Norris 1987


Division     Rhodophyta
Class     Florideophyceae
Order     Rhodymeniales
Family    Lomentariaceae
Basionym     Gelidium variabile Greville ex J.Agardh
SynonymGelidiopsis variabilis (Greville ex J.Agardh) F.Schmitz, Acrocarpus gracilis Kützing, Gelidiopsis gracilis (Kützing) Feldmann

    Thalli erect 5-8cm in height and dark red in colour. Thalli firmly attached by thin, repeatedly branched stolons. Erect axes terete, stiff but flexible, towards apex slightly compressed; sparsely branched from below; branches simple, cylindrical with obtuse apices, 400-950 μm wide. Cross section of the thallus shows outer cortex composed of 2-4 layers of small cells. The medulla composed of hyaline cells measures 15–20 µm diameter and 45–80 µm long; rhizines lacking.


Ecology

Lithophytic, occurs in inter tidal to shallow subtidal regions


Distribution in India

Back Bay, Kolaba, Worli Seaface, Bandra, all at Bombay (Boergesen, 1935); Hare Island, Tuticorin, (Boergesen, 1938); Cape Comorin (Boergesen, 1937, leg. M.O.P. Iyengar, 1924); Karwar (leg. M.O.P. Iyengar, 1928); Lakshadweep (Mehta et al, 1980).