Rosenvingea intricata (J.Agardh) Borgesen

Order Family    Genus Punctariales Punctariaceae Rosenvingea

Rosenvingea intricata (J.Agardh) Borgesen

Characteristics

Plants profusely branched, branching wide angled, irregularly dichotomous or pseudodichotomous, light brown in colour, tubular, hollow inside; older parts of the thallus highly compressed with uneven surface, 10 m or more across at its widest part. Branches decreasing in size, ultimately ending in very minute ramification, hair like, teret, 0.5 mm across; transverse section of thallus with 3-4 layers of cells, innermost layer of cells lining the hollow cavity larger than the peripheral cells. 30-60µ or more across; outermost layer in surface view irregularly polygonal cells, 9-13µ broad; each cell with a single chromatophore. Chromatophore 9.9 - 13.2µ across; plurilocular sporangia in plenty, several together in circular to oval sori, spread over the whole surface of the thallus; mature sporangium clavate, 19.8µ long, 6-7µ broad.

Distribution : Maharashtra, Goa

Ecological status : Mangrove swamps, Estuarine/ intertidal zones

IUCN status : LRnt

Uses : used as a source of alginate and fertilizer

Cultivation : No

Exiating Cultivation : None