Generic descriptions: Sporolithaceae

Sporolithon

• Under development
• tetrasporangia borne on a single stalk cell that does not produce successive sporangia.

	COMMENT:Under development. ETYMOLOGY:Under development KEY FEATURES:Under development
Single stalk  cell in Sporolithon.

Heydrichia

• Under development
• tetrasporangia borne on multiple stalk cells that result from the production of successive sporangia.

COMMENT:Heydrichia is a very recently-described genus of coralline algae. It was described from southern and western South Africa in 1994 by Townsend, Chamberlain and Keats based on H. woelkerlingii, a very thick species found in the sublittoral fringe and throughout the sublittoral zone. Since then, a thinner species (H. groeneri Keats & Chamberlain) was found in the same area. A further species has been found in southern Australia. ETYMOLOGY:Named for the German botanist, Heydrich, who worked on this group. KEY FEATURES:Under development

Multiple stalk  cells in Heydrichia.

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Derek Keats,
updated 03/09/01