LOPEZ-BAUTISTA, J. M.1*, S. FREDERICQ1, S. C. LINDSTROM2, W. A. NELSON3, and M. E. RAMIREZ4. 1Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504-2451 U.S.A.; 2Department of Botany, #3529-6270, University Blvd, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4; 3Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, PO Box 467, Wellington, New Zealand; 4Seccion Botanica, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Santiago, Chile. - Characterization and position of the genus Stenogramme in the Phyllophoraceae (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta).
The red algal genus Stenogramme was described by Harvey (1840)
for entities having flattened, dichotomously branched thalli with
cystocarps borne in narrow, linear sori resembling an interrupted
midrib on blades, and with isomorphic tetrasporophytes with scattered
circular to irregular tetrasporangial nemathecia. In the current
literature, the most common species listed is Stenogramme
interrupta (C. Agardh) Montagne ex Harvey 1848, said to have a
worldwide distribution in temperate seas. DNA sequences from three
molecular data sets (chloroplast-encoded rbcL, and nuclear-encoded ITS
and LSU rDNA) instead reveal that the genus is more species-rich than
is currently appreciated, and that several species go under the name
S. interrupta. The latter species, described from Cadiz, Spain,
is found to be restricted to the Eastern Atlantic. The name
Stenogramme californica Harvey 1840, the type species described
from the Pacific coast of North America, is reinstated for members
from California and Oregon. S. rhodymenioides Joly et Alveal
1969 is reinstated for the entity from Chile. The range of S.
phyllophoroides (J. Agardh) Millar 1990 described from northern
N.S.W., Australia, is expanded to accommodate the taxon from South
Australia referred to as S. interrupta. S. leptophylla
J. Agardh 1885 is a distinct S. Australian species. A new name needs
to be provided for the New Zealand taxon. The genus also comprises a
new entity (sterile) from Alaska, and a new (sterile) species from
offshore Louisiana. Stenogramme is a well-defined monophyletic
genus, but its position within the Phylophoraceae remains equivocal.
Key words: ITS rDNA, LSU, Phyllophoraceae, rbcL, Red Algae, Rhodophyta, Stenogramme