Generic descriptions: Austrolithoideae

Austrolithoideae

(Harvey et Woelkerling 1995: 363)

The Austrolithoideae (Harvey et Woelkerling 1995: 363) are characterised as follows:

• Thallus non-geniculate;
• cells of contiguous vegetative filaments not joined by either cell fusions or secondary pit connections;
• tetrasporangia/ bisporangia bearing apical plugs and borne in groups within multiporate conceptacles.

Two monotypic genera are contained within the subfamily. One genus, Austrolithon is known only from Southern Australia, where it occurs partly endophytically in the geniculate coralline Haliptilon roseum. The other genus, Boreolithon is known only from Britain and France, where it apparently grown on the surface of hydroids. This subfamily will not be treated further here. Please see Harvey et Woelkerling (1995: Phycologia 34: 362-382) for further information.

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Derek Keats,
updated 03/09/01