Hincksia mitchelliae (Harv.) P.C.Silva
Catalog of the benthic marine algae of the Philippines 73 (1987)
Conservation Code:
Not threatened
Naturalised Status: Native to Western Australia
Name Status:
Current
Scientific Description
John Huisman & Cheryl Parker,
Monday 20 June 2011
Habit and structure. Thallus medium to dark brown, loosely to densely tufted, (0.5–)1–4(–10) cm long, with the axes attached by a tuft of descending rhizoids from the lower cells, much branched irregularly to spirally or tending to unilateral above; epilithic or epiphytic. Filaments tapering gradually, 30–60 µm in diameter below with cells L/B 1–2(–2.5), mid branches 25–40 µm in diameter with cells L/B (0.7–)1–1.6(–2), lesser branchlets 20–30 µm in diameter with cells L/B (0.5–)1–1.5, tapering into false hairs 8–20 µm in diameter with cells L/B 4–6. Growth from scattered meristematic regions along the main axes and meristems at the base of most branches, with further scattered intercalary divisions. Cells with numerous discoid phaeoplasts each with a pyrenoid, and clustered physodes.
Reproduction. Plurilocular sporangia scattered but often tending to be unilateral and adaxial, sessile, cylindrical and straight but usually tapering slightly to rounded ends, (50–)60–140 µm long and 20–40 µm in diameter, L/B (2.5–)4–6; sporangia with large or small locules reported. Unilocular sporangia on same plants as plurilocular sporangia, scattered, sessile, ovoid, 40–60 µm long and 16–27 µm in diameter.
Distribution. Generally distributed along the W. Aust. coast to southern Qld. and including Tas.
Habitat. G. mitchelliae is one of the commonest Ectocarpaceae along southern Australia, being found under strong wave action and also in fairly calm conditions.
[After Womersley, Mar. Benthic Fl. Southern Australia II: 52 (1987) as Giffordia mitchelliae]
