Botanical Studies (2007) 48: 459-464.
*
Corresponding author: E-mail: xiesl@sxu.edu.cn; Tel:
86-351-7018121; Fax: 86-351-7018121.
INTRODUCTION
Members of the red algae are widely distributed in
oceans around the world. More than 200 taxa of red algae
are found in freshwater habitats. They are reported to
appear in moving water and attached to rocks and other
substrata (Kumano, 2002). The Batrachospermales is the
most important group of freshwater red algae, and the
Batrachospermum is the largest genus among them.
The genus Batrachospermum Roth (1797) was
established over 200 years ago. To date, more than
one hundred species have been reported, and they
are distributed worldwide. The Batrachospermum i s
distinguished from other Rhodophyte genus based on
a heterotrichous life history phase, lack of tetraspore
production, and carposporophytes that have a definite
shape. Most taxa are classified into seven sections based
on the shape of their trichogyne and carpogonial branch,
but some taxa have remained difficult to place (Entwisle
and Foard, 1997; Kumano, 2002). Twenty-six species have
been previously recorded in China (Hua and Shi, 1996;
Jao, 1940, 1941; Shi et al., 1993, 2006; Xie et al., 1999,
2003; Xie and Shi, 2003, 2004, 2005).
In 2006, we discovered a Batrachospermum in the
Shanxi province of China which did not match any species
description. Therefore, we describe it as a new species
based on the combination of B. carpoinvolucrum Sheath et
Vis-like involucral filaments with apical carpogonia and B.
debile Entwisle et Foard and B. kraftii Entwisle et Foard-
like long carpogonia (Vis and Sheath, 1996; Entwisle and
Foard, 1997; Kumano, 2002).
Batrachospermum hongdongense S. L. Xie et J. Feng,
sp. nov.¡XTYPE: CHINA. Shanxi Province, Hongdong
County, Guangsheng Temple (111¢X47¡¦49.86" N, 36¢X14¡¦
23.18" E), on stones and rocks in a stream, 3 Apr 2006,
SAS06009 (holotype, SXU).
Figures 1, 2
Frons diocea, caespitosa, mucosa, purpurea, 2.5-3.5
cm alta, irregularibus ramosissima. Verticilli globosi,
remoti, fere 350-380 £gm crassi, ramuli primarii dichotome
vel trichotome ramose, 10-12-cellulares, cellulis longi-
abovatis, 6-12 £gm longis, 4-6 £gm latis; secundarii nulli,
pili pauci. Cellalae axiales 100-120 £gm longae; 30-40 £gm
latae. Flia corticalia cylindrical, 45-55 £gm longis, 4-6 £gm
in latis.
Spermatangia globosa, singulata vel binata, terminalia
vel lateralia in ramulisprimariis, 5-7.5 £gm diametro.
Ramuli carpogoniferi recti, e cellulis basalibus vel
terminalia filis bracteatis. Carpogonium 45-52 £gm longum,
5-6 £gm in latum, trichogyne longi-scimitaria, haud
pedicellato. Carposporophyta 1-3, globosi, sparsa in et out
verticillis, 65-100 £gm diametro, carposporangia ovoidea,
5-7.5 £gm lata, 8.5-15 £gm longa.
Description. Thalli dioecious, gelatinous, caespitose,
violet-red, approx. 2.5-3.5 cm high, irregularly branched
(Figure 1A, B). Whorls globose, 350-380 £gm in diameter,
slightly separated, internodes approx. 150-300 £gm (Figure
1C). Fascicles 2-3 dichotomously branched, 10-12 cells
long; cells long ovoid, 6-12 £gm long, 4-6 £gm in diameter.
Batrachospermum hongdongense (sect. Batrachospermum,
Batrachospermaceae), a new species from Shanxi, China
Shu-lian XIE* and Jia FENG
School of Life Science and Technology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030006, P. R. China
(Received September 13, 2006; Accepted April 27, 2007)
ABSTRACT.
Batrachospermum hongdongense (Batrachospermaceae, Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta),
a new species from Shanxi province, China, is described and illustrated. This species is assigned to sect.
Batrachospermum in that carpogonial branches are long, straight, and do not differ from the primary
fascicle cells. This new species is similar to B. carpoinvolucrum Sheath et Vis in having involucral filaments
terminated with carpogonia, and to B. debile Entwisle et Foard and B. kraftii Entwisle et Foard in the length
of carpogonia. It differs from B. carpoinvolucrum in having long-scimitar trichogyne (vs. clavate trichogyne),
and from B. debile and B. kraftii in having involucral filaments bearing carpogonia (vs. involucral filaments
without).
Keywords: Batrachospermum hongdongense; Batrachospermaceae; China; Rhodophyta.
TAxONOmy
pg_0002
460
Botanical Studies, Vol. 48, 2007
Secondary fascicles absent. Terminal hairs rare. Axial cells
100-120 £gm long, 30-40 £gm in diameter, and main axis
with cortication consisting of cylindrical cells only, 45-55
£gm long, 4-6 £gm in diameter.
Spermatangia globose, single or in pairs, terminal or
lateral on fascicles, 5-7.5 £gm in diameter (Figure 2A).
Carpogonial branches straight, arising from the base of
fascicles or terminating in involucral filaments, 5-12 cells
long; carpogonia 45-52 £gm long, 5-6 £gm in diameter;
trichogyne narrowly long-scimitar, without a stalk (Figure
1B-F). Carposporphytes definitely shaped, spherical, 1-3
per whorl, scattered in inner or outer parts of the whorl,
65-100 £gm in diameter; carposporangia ovoid, 8.5-15 £gm
long, 5-7.5 £gm in diameter (Figure 1D).
Ecology. This species grows on rocks and stones in a
stream in Guangsheng Temple, Hongdong County, Shanxi,
China. The stream is about 10 m wide, 30 cm in depth, and
the water is clear, temperature is 11.5¢XC, pH 6.5.
Distribution. Hongdong County, Shanxi, China (Figure
3); known only from the type locality.
Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the
county name of the type locality.
Relationship to other species. Batrachospermum
hongdongense clearly belongs to sect. Batrachospermum
given its carpogonial branches are long, straight, and not
distinct from the primary fascicles cells (Vis and Sheath,
1996; Vis et al., 1995).
This species is similar to B. carpoinvolucrum in
being dioecious, and in the carpogonial branch having
some involucral filaments terminated by carpogonia.
Batrachospermum hongdongense differs from B .
carpoinvolucrum in having narrowly long-scimitar
trichogyne, 5-6 £gm in diameter, carpogonia 45-52 £gm long,
and long carpogonial branch, about 5-12 cells long while
the latter¡¦s trichogyne is clavate, 7-8.5 £gm in diameter,
only 15-26 £gm long, carpogonial branch 6-7 cells long.
This taxon is also similar to B. debile and B. kraftii in the
length of carpogonia, about 40-60 £gm. Batrachospermum
hongdongense differs from B. debile and B. kraftii in
having carpogonia terminate some involucral filaments. In
addition B. debile trichogynes are narrow club-liner, 3-5
£gm in diameter, and the carpogonial branch is typically
only 5-7 cells long. B. kraftii trichogynes are oblique-
ellipsoidal to scimitar, and 6-11 £gm in diameter (Table 1).
In conclusion, because B. hongdongense has whorls
Figure 1. A, B, Habit of frond; C, Part of a frond, showing shape of whorls; D, Carposporophyte and carposporangium (arrow).
pg_0003
XIE and FENG ¡X
Batrachospermum hongdongense
a new species from China
461
developed normally, carpogonium-bearing branches
not spirally twisted, and carposporophyte consisting of
gonimoblast filaments and carposporangia distributed
in whorls, it was considered to belong to the section
Batrachospermum. So far eleven species have been
reported in this section from China (Hua and Shi, 1996;
Jao, 1940, 1941; Shi et al., 1993; Xie et al., 1999; Xie and
Shi, 2003, 2004) (Table 2).
Figure 2. A. Primary fascicle, showing spermatangium (arrow); B, C, D, E, F. Carpogonial branch and carpogonium (arrow) with long
involucral filaments terminated with carpogonia (large arrows).
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462
Botanical Studies, Vol. 48, 2007
Acknowledgements. This work was supported by
National Natural Science Fundation of China (Grant no.
30470118, 30270119).
LITERATURE CITED
Entwisle, T.J. and H.J. Foard. 1997. Batrachospermum
(Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) in Australia and New
Zealand: new taxa and emended circumscription in sections
Aristata, Batrachospermum, Turfosa and Virescentia.
Austral. Syst. Bot. 10: 331-380.
Hua, D. and Z.X. Shi. 1996. A new species of Batrachospermum
from Jiangsu. Acta Phytotax. Sin. 34: 324-325.
Jao, C.C. 1940. S tudies on the freshwater algae of China. IV.
Subaerial and aquatic algae from Nanyoh, Hunan. Sinensia
11: 241-360.
J ao, C.C. 1941. Studies on the freshwate r a lgae of China.
VIII. A preliminary account of the Chinese freshwater
Rhodophyceae. Sinensia 12: 245-290.
Kumano, S. 2002. Freshwater Red Algae of the World. Biopress
Limited, Bristol, pp. 96-113.
Roth, A.G. 1797. Bemerkungen uber das Studium der
Cryptogamischen Wassergewaechse. Hannover, Gebrudern,
109 pp.
Shi, Z.X., Z.Y. Hu, and S. Kumano. 1993. Batrachospermum
Figure 3. Distribution of Batrachospermum hongdongense in
Shanxi Province, China.
Table 1. Comparison of
Batrachospermum
hongdongense S. L. Xie et J. Feng, B. carpoinvolucrum Sheath et Vis, B. debile
Entwisle et Foard and B. kraftii Entwisle et Foard.
Character
B. hongdongense B. carpoinvolucrum B. debile
B. kraftii
Thallus (cm)
2.5-3.5
2-3
1-10
Whorl shape
Spherical
Barrel-spherical Barrel-spherical Barrel-spherical
Whorl diameter (£gm)
350-380
489-853
300-550
420-1,300
Internode (£gm)
150-300
110-180
200-530
Primary fascicle (cell number) 10-12
8-10
6-12
11-20
Carpogonial branch (cell number) 5-12
6-7
5-7
5-14
Carpogonia diameter (£gm)
2-3
3-4
3-4
3-5
Carpogonia long (£gm)
45-52
15-26
32-60
20-40
Trichogyne shape
Scimitar-linear Clavate
Club-linear
Oblique-ellipsoidal to
scimitar
Trichogyne diameter (£gm)
5-6
7-8.5
3-5
6-11
Involucral filament
With carpogonia With carpogonia Without carpogonia Without carpogonia
Spermtangium shape
Spherical
Spherical
Spherical
Spherical
Spermtangium diameter (£gm) 5-7.5
8-10
5-6
5-8
Carposporophytes shape
Spherical
Spherical
Hemispherical
Spherical
Carposporophytes number per
whorl
1-3
1-3
1
1-2(-3)
Carposporophytes site
Inner or outer whorls Beyond whorls Inner or outer whorls Inner whorls rarely outer
Carposporoangia diameter (£gm) 5-7.5
7-11
7-9
7-14
Carposporangia long (£gm)
8.5-15
10-14
10-16
18-26
pg_0005
XIE and FENG ¡X
Batrachospermum hongdongense
a new species from China
463
heteromorphum, s p. Nov. (R hodophy ta) fro m Hube i
Province, China. Jap. J. Phycol. 41: 295-302.
Shi, Z.X., S.L. Xie, and D. Hua. 2006. Flora Algarum Sinicarum
Aquae Dulcis, Tomus XIII. S cience Press, Beijing, pp.
46-68.
Xie, S.L. and Z.X. Shi. 2003. New reports of Batrachospermum
Roth (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) from China. Bull.
Bot. Res. 23: 269-274.
Xie, S.L. and Z.X. Shi. 2004. A new species of Batrachospermum
from Sichuan Province, China. Bull. Bot. Res. 24: 131-132.
Xi e , S .L . a nd Z.X . S hi . 20 05. T hr ee ne w s pe c ie s of
Batrachospermum Roth (Batrachospermaceae, Rhodophyta)
in China. Chin. J. Oceanal. Limnol. 23: 204-209.
Xie, S.L., Z.X. Shi, Y.L. Ling et al. 1999. Two new records of
freshwater Rhodophyta from China. Acta Hydrobiol. Sin.
23: 506-509.
Xie, S.L., Z.X. Shi, H.S. Lu et al. 2003. Four new reports of
Batrachospermum ((Batrachos permaceae, Rhodophyta)
from China. J. Wuhan Bot. Res. 21: 148-152.
Vis, M.L. and R.G. Sheath. 1996. Distribution and systematics
of Batrachospermum (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) in
North America. 9. section Batrachospermum: description of
five new species. J. Phycol. 35: 124-134.
Vis, M.L., R.G. Sheath, and T.J. Entwisle. 1995. Morphometric
analysis of Batrachospermum section Batrachospermum
(Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) type specimens. Eur. J.
Phycol. 30: 35-55.
Table 2. Distribution of Batrachospermum section Batrachospermum in China.
Species
Distribution in China
Ecology
Reference
B. anatinum
Shanxi (Taiyuan), Anhui (Chuzhou),
Henan (Linxian), Chongqing
Water temperature 9-15¢XC, pH 6-7, on
rocks, sands and stone wall in streams
Jao, 1941
B. arcuatum
Shanxi (Lucheng), Hunan (Jishou) Water temperature 16¢XC, pH 7.5, on
rocks in streams
Xie et al., 1999
B. boryanum
Shandong (Ji¡¦nan)
Water clear, water temperature 17¢XC, pH
6, on rocks in streams
Xie and Shi, 2003
B. gelatinosum
Shanxi (Pingding), Heilongjiang
(Shangzhi), Jiangsu (Nanjing),
Henan (Xinyang), Hubei (Luotian),
Hunan (Hengshan), Chongqing
Water temperture 10-22.5¢XC, pH 6.5-7.8,
on rocks and stone wall in streams and
mountain streams
Jao, 1940, 1941
B. heteromotphum Hubei (Luotian)
On rocks in a mountain stream
Shi et al., 1993
B. hongdongense Shanxi (Hongdong)
Water clear, water temperature 11.5¢XC,
pH 6.5, on rocks and stone in a stream
B. involutum
Helongjiang (Ning¡¦an)
Water temperature 18¢XC, pH 7.4, on
rocks in waterfall
Xie and Shi, 2003
B. lochmodes
Hubei (Changyang)
Water temperature 16.5¢XC, pH 6.5, on
rocks in a mountain stream
Xie and Shi, 2003
B. longipedicellatum Jiangsu (Xuzhou)
Water temperature 16-17¢XC, pH 7.5, on
calcareous land in a spring stream
Hua and Shi, 1996
B. pengzhouense Sichuang (Pengzhou)
Water clear, water temperature 17.8¢XC,
on land in a spring stream
Xie and Shi, 2004
B. szechwanense Chongqing (Beibei)
On cement wall in a rush stream
Jao, 1941
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