Polyides rotunda
Species of alga
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Polyides rotunda is a species of small red marine alga in the family Polyidaceae.
| Polyides rotunda | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Archaeplastida |
| Division: | Rhodophyta |
| Class: | Florideophyceae |
| Order: | Gigartinales |
| Family: | Polyidaceae |
| Genus: | Polyides |
| Species: | P. rotunda |
| Binomial name | |
| Polyides rotunda C. A. Agardh (1822) | |
Description
Polyides rotunda grows to 20 cm (7.9 in) in length, its cartilaginous, terete and branches two or three times dichotomously. The branches are about 2 mm (0.079 in) in diameter reaching a uniform height. The holdfast is disc like. In colour it is purplish red.[1][2]
They are exclusively multicellular, like all Polyidaceae.
Habitat
Distribution
Generally distributed around Ireland, Great Britain, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.[4]
Reproduction
Polyides rotunda is dioecious. The spermatangial cells develop in swollen areas near the apices. Cystocarps develop near the apices.[1] The tetrasporangia are cruciate, that is cross-shaped.[5]
Similar species
Furcellaria lumbricalis (Hudson) Lamouroux is very similar but can be distinguished by the holdfast which has claw-like branches while that of Polyides being disc-like.[6]