Batrachospermum (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) in Australia and New Zealand: New taxa and records in sections Contorta and Hybrida

Abstract

Six species of Batrachospermum from Australia and New Zealand have a twisted to coiled carpogonial branch and determinate gonimoblast filaments, and are therefore referable to section Contorta or Hybrida. Batrachospermum australicum KÜtz. ex sp. nov. from large rivers in tropical Northern Territory has a tightly 3-coiled carpogonial branch; B. vittatum sp. nov. from tropical Northern Territory has a characteristic longitudinal mid-whorl band of spermatangia; and B. deminutum sp. nov. from a single locality in eastern-central New South Wales has reduced whorls and long carpogonial branches. The other three species are cosmopolitan in distribution: B. virgatodecaisneanum Sirodot is widespread but uncommon in temperate regions of both countries; B. ambiguum Montagne is widespread and common in tropical Australia; and B. globosporum Israelson is restricted in Australia to near Brisbane in subtropical southern Queensland.