Polysiphonia elongella Harvey in W.J. Hooker [1] is a branched species of marine red algae in the genus in the Polysiphonia in the Rhodophyta.
Polysiphonia elongella | |
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Illustration of Polysiphonia elongella | |
Scientific classification | |
(unranked): | Archaeplastida |
Division: | Rhodophyta |
Class: | Florideophyceae |
Order: | Ceramiales |
Family: | Rhodomelaceae |
Genus: | Polysiphonia |
Species: | P. elongella
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Binomial name | |
Polysiphonia elongella Harvey
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This marine alga grows as small cylindrical thalli branching to about 10 cm long. It grows as an erect axis attached by a disk-like holdfast. The main axis is unbranched towards the base but bears lateral branches higher up. Each erect axes is composed of a polysiphonous axis with a central row of cells surrounded[2] 4 perixial cells all of the same length.[3] The branches, unlike Polysiphonia elongate, are only slightly constricted at their base.[3][4][5] Cortication filaments grow downwards in the grooves between the periaxial cells and lower down these form a complete cortication. Trichoblasts are borne near the apices.[3]
Globose cystocarps and bisporangia are recorded, the tetrasporangia are sparse.[3]
The species is recorded from Ireland, Great Britain, including the Isle of Man, the Shetland Islands and the Channel Islands.[1] The few records from Northern Ireland are old and require confirmation.[7][3] Also recorded from France and the Mediterranean.[3]