Desarrollo morfológico y taxonomía de Chondrus canaliculatus (C. Ag.) Greville (Rhodophyta, Gigartinaceae) De Perú Y Chile

Abstract

The vegetative and reproductive development of the endemic species Chondrus canaliculatus ( C. Ag.) Greville is described from the Peruvian and Chilean coast. In addition the taxonomic status of this species is reviewed based on morphological characters. Chondrus it is distinguished from other members of the family primarily by the absense of enveloping secondary filaments in the cystocarp. Ch. canaliculatus is characterized by the presence of a true enveloping tissue around the cystocarp which is present during the complete development of the carposporophyte. On the other hand tetrasporangia in this species are developed in secondary filaments derived from medullary external cells, which is totally different in the type species Chondrus crispus where they are developed entirely in secondary filaments derived from internal medullary cells. Based on the morphological characters observed in this study Ch. canaliculatus does'nt belong to Chondrus genus, consecuently it may be removed to other genus, probably a new one between the Gigartinaceae.