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STRUCTURE AND REPRODUCTION OF SCINAIA MONILIFORMIS PAKISTANENSIS VAR. NOV. (NEMALIALES, RHODOPHYTA)

SYED AFAQ-HUSAIN AND MUSTAFA SHAMEEL*

Abstract: A new taxon Scinaia moniliformis J. Agardh var. pakistanensis Afaq-Husain et Shameel is described. The vegetative, anatomical and reproductive structures of the Pakistani populations of this red alga have been investigated in detail. The new variety showed distinctive characters as thalli up to 22.5 cm long; deeply constricted into 4-26 mm long ´ 2.0-5.5 mm broad segments; branching di- to subdi-chotomous, from every segment in proximal and at 2-5 segment distances in the distal part of plants; utricles 30-38 mm long ´ 16-21 mm broad; hypodermal cells 5-15 mm broad; carpogonia conical distally, up to 10´4.5 mm; cystocarps up to 320 mm broad. These specimens were found to differ from S. moniliformis growing in Australia and India and, therefore, given the status of a new variety.

Applied Biology & Marine Resources Research Centre, P.C.S.I.R. Laboratories Complex, Karachi-75280.
Department of Botany/Centre of Excellence in Marine Biology, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270.