Gracilaria caudata J.Agardh

Resendiz, María Luisa Núñez, Dreckmann, Kurt M., Sentíes, Abel, Wynne, Michael J. & Tejera, Hilda León, 2019, Marine red algae (Rhodophyta) of economic use in the algal drifts from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, Phytotaxa 387 (3), pp. 219-240 : 232

Gracilaria caudata J.Agardh

Thallus cartilaginous, delicate, red purple or green, 14–22 cm long, with cylindrical axes in cross section, 580–730 μm in diameter. Main axes branching pseudo-dichotomously, laterally or irregularly; branches without constrictions, with smooth surfaces and acute apices ( Fig. 35 ). Pseudoparenchymatous organization, with an abrupt transition between medulla and cortex ( Fig. 36 ). Medulla with 7–8 layers of irregular and elongated cells, 30–90 μm x 50–160 μm in diameter. Subcortex with two layers of elongated cells, 12–18 μm in diameter. Cortex with one layer of very pigmented and spherical cells, 4–8 μm in diameter. Elongated cystocarps, 370–400 μm x 430–470 μm in diameter, without basal constriction ( Fig. 36 ).

Figures

FIGURES 28–38. 28–29. Meristotheca cylindrica. 28. Medullary filaments and cortical cells. Scale bar = 140 μm.29. Immature cystocarp. Scale bar = 220 μm. 30–32. Tepoztequiella rhizoidea. 30. Habit. Scale bar = 3.5 cm. 31. Medullary filaments and cortical cells. Scale bar = 90 μm. 32. Tetrasporangia basally attached (arrowhead). Scale bar = 30 μm. 33–34. Gracilaria blodgettii. 33. Habit. Scale bar = 2 cm. 34. Medullary and cortical cells. Scale bar = 140 μm. 35–36. Gracilaria caudata. 35. Habit. Scale bar = 4 cm. 36. Medullary and cortical cells and a mature cystocarp. Scale bar = 310 μm. 37–38. Gracilaria cervicornis. 37. Habit. Scale bar = 3 cm. 38. Medullary and cortical cells. Scale bar = 150 μm.