On Some Ceramiaceae (Rhodophyta) from California

Abstract

Morphological features in the red algal family Ceramiaceae are described for four taxa from California. One of them, Bornetia californica, is described as new to science and is distinguished from other known species by the method of branching in the tetrasporangial and spermatangial laterals. Ptilothamnion codicolum is a transfer from Pleonosporium and is placed in this genus because of the number of cells of the fertile axis and the development of the gonimoblast. Spermothamnion snyderae, widely distributed on the Pacific coast, is transferred to Tiffaniella because of the structure of the gonimoblast and the lack of an involucre. Two species of Callithamnion, C. rigidum Dawson and C. uncinatum Dawson, are placed in synonymy with Callithamnion rupicolum Anderson.