Calliblepharis jolyi E.C. Oliveira

Soares, Luanda Pereira & Fujii, Mutue Toyota, 2020, Molecular assessment of flat Cystocloniaceae (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) from Brazil with reinstatement of Calliblepharis jolyi and a new record of C. saidana for the Atlantic Ocean, Phytotaxa 439 (3), pp. 243-254 : 247-248

Calliblepharis jolyi E.C. Oliveira , Nova Hedwigia 18: 770 (1969). ( Figs. 2–3 )

Homotypic synonym:— Craspedocarpus jolyi (E.C. Oliveira) C.W. Schneider, Phycologia 27: 8 (1988).

Type locality:— BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Itaoca Beach, 29 July 1965, coll. E. C. Oliveira Filho & A. B. Joly (Holotype SPF 2601!).

Vegetative morphology: Thalli were erect, delicate, intense pink-reddish to red-brownish, compressed and 1.5–5.5 cm high ( Fig. 2A–B ), attached to the substratum by a small discoid holdfast ( Fig. 2C ). Presence of few anastomoses between branches ( Fig. 2D ), which were up to 2 mm wide, intensely and alternately branched ( Fig. 2E ). Ultimate branchlets were terete and tapered to the ends ( Fig. 2E ). Thallus organization was uniaxial, with an apical cell clearly visible ( Fig. 2F ). In surface view, cortical cells were usually polygonal, with small outer cortical cells rounded to elongated, forming weakly developed rosettes ( Fig. 2G ). In longitudinal section, an axial filament was surrounded by two layers of large medullary cells, linked by secondary pit-connections ( Fig. 2H ). In cross section, middle portions of the thalli were 320–350 μm thick, with four to six layers of large, unpigmented, compressed, medullary cells ( Fig. 2I ). The cortex was composed of 1–2 layers of pigmented, irregular cortical cells ( Fig. 2J ). Lenticular thickenings were abundant in the cortical and medullary cells ( Figs 2I–J ). Unicellular hairs were not observed.

Reproductive morphology: Spermatangia scattered in irregular patches over the young branches ( Fig. 3A ). Mature spermatia were in chains, cut off from elongated spermatangial primordial cells ( Fig. 3B ). Cystocarps were globose, sessile, and were formed at the edge of ultimate branchlets ( Fig. 3C ). The auxiliary cell cuts off a gonimoblast initial inwardly ( Fig. 3D ). Branched gonimoblast filaments, produced from the gonimoblast initial, develop towards the surface, while others grow inwardly and fuse with the basal inner nutritive cells, by secondary pit connections.As result of this fusion, a group of large cells, like columns, was formed in the center of carposporophyte ( Fig. 3E ). No evidence of a fusion cell formation. Some transverse sterile filaments joined with the pericarp ( Fig. 3F ). Gonimoblast filaments that developed outwardly produced terminal chains of ovoid carposporangia, 15–20 μm in diameter ( Fig. 3G ). Mature cystocarps were 600–1000 μm wide and nonostiolate ( Fig. 3H ). Tetrasporangia were scattered on proliferations ( Fig. 3I ). Tetrasporangia were zonately divided, 40–45 μm long and 22.5–27.5 μm wide ( Fig. 3J–K ).

Habitat and distribution: Calliblepharis jolyi was collected at Itaoca Beach (type locality) and other locations along the Espírito Santo coast, as part of the drift (as in the original description), epiphytic of Cryptonemia seminervis (C. Agardh) J. Agardh or forming tufts with Jania subulata (J. Ellis & Solander) Sonder. Calliblepharis jolyi can be easily distinguished by its habit resembling juvenile plants of Gracilaria cervicornis (Turner) J. Agardh. We could not find this species during our intertidal surveys, suggesting that its habitat is restricted to the subtidal. At present, C. jolyi is an endemic species from Brazil.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Vegetative morphology of Calliblepharis jolyi. A. Holotype (SPF2601). B. Newly collected topotype specimen (SP470439, MK614687), epiphyte of Cryptonemia seminervis. C. Discoid holdfast. D. Detail showing branches with anastomosis (arrow). E. Detail of branching pattern, with ultimate branchlets terete and tapered to the ends. F. Surface view of a branch apex showing the apical cell. G. Surface view showing weakly developed rosette cells (arrows) surrounding the cortical cells. H. Longitudinal section showing an axial filament (a) surrounded by medullary cells, linked by secondary pit-connection (arrowhead). I. Transverse section of a middle portion of the thallus, with lenticular thickenings throughout. J. Detail of a transverse section showing a rosette cell (arrow), and lenticular thickenings in the medullary and cortical cells (arrowheads).

FIGURE 3. Reproductive morphology of Calliblepharis jolyi. A. Surface view of a male thallus with scattered spermatangia. B. Transverse section of a spermatangial branch showing spermatia in chains, cut off from elongated spermatangial primordial cells (arrows). C. Ultimate branchlets with marginal cystocarps. D. Gonimoblast initial (gi) cut off inwardly from the auxiliary cell (a). E. Transverse section of a young cystocarp showing the basal inner nutritive tissue (nt), large columnar cells in the center of carposporophyte (c) and branched gonimoblast filaments (gf) bearing chains of carposporangia (ca). F. Transverse sterile filaments joined with the pericarp. G. Chains of ovoid carposporangia. H. Nonostiolate, mature cystocarp. I. Surface view of tetrasporangia scattered over the upper branchlets. J. Transverse section of tetrasporangial branch. K. Detail of a mature tetrasporangium zonately divided.