Acanthophora muscoides (Linnaeus) Bory de Saint Vincent

Order Family    Genus Ceramiales Rhodomelaceae Acanthophora

Acanthophora muscoides Bory

Characteristics

Thalli erect, rigid and cartikaginous forming bushy reddish to purplish clumps on the substrate; branching subdichotomous to alternate and with tendency to form whorls at the terminal portion of the thalli; main branches are cylindrical, 0.7 - 1.9 mm in diameter, tapering to acute tips which are sometimes annulate; determinate branchlets are usually in the form of simple short spines or sometimes compound spinous branchlets similar to A. specifera; cross section of a branch shows a small rounded central cell of 74 - 92 µ in diameter bounded by 4 pericentral cells which are 150 - 176 µ broad and 2 -3 cells thick medulla; cortex is composed of about two layers of very small rounded cells; cystocarp are ovate, urn shaped with a large opening or ostiole at a mammilate tips and are always borne on the determinate branchlets.

Distribution : Gujarat, Lakshadweep

Ecological status : Intertidal and subtidal zones

IUCN status :

Uses :

Culture/Cultivation :