Division | Rhodophyta |
Class | Florideophyceae |
Order | Gracilariales |
Family | Gracilariaceae |
Basionym | Rhodymenia corticata J.Agardh |
Synonym | Sphaerococcus corticatus (J.Agardh) Kützing |
Thalli dark red to purple colour, flattened fronds, 10-18 cm in height, rigid and cartilaginous. Thalli repeatedly dichotomously branched segments, usually 1-2(3) mm wide. Apices of branches acute; margin of the thallus smooth or sometimes with proliferations. Cortex 1-2 layered, outer layer of narrowly elongated cells, 6-9 μm long and 3-6 μm broad and the inner of radially compressed, slightly larger cells. Medullary regions with large thick walled cells measure 118-160 μm broad and 180-220 μm long. Cystocarps hemispherical occurs on the surface of thalli, 0.8-1.4 mm wide. Gonimoblast filaments densely aggregated branched upto 2 or 3 orders
Distribution in India
Tiruchendur, Pudumadam, Cape Comorian, Idinthakari, Covelong, Mandapam, Kilakarai, Dwaraka, Karwar, Bombay (Boergesen 1933, 1935, 1938).