Genus Stirkia Barros-Barreto & Maggs, gen. nov.

Thalli mainly erect, 10-200 mm high, consisting of irregularly branched axes with a wide variation in habit between species.Axes terete, partially to completely corticated, with apices straight to forcipate. Nodes formed by 6-8 periaxial cells each cutting off four cortical initials, two acropetal and two basipetal. Tetrasporangia formed by periaxial cells, unilateral/bilateral to verticillate, 1-3 per node, sometimes in stichidia-like groups immersed in the thalli. The rbc L alignment positions 696- 709 5’ GAACGATATGATCTT 3’ generated in this study.

TYPE SPECIES. — Stirkia fujiana (Barros-Barreto & Maggs) Barros-Barreto & Maggs, comb. nov.

ETYMOLOGY. — The name Stirkia was chosen to honour Wendy A. Stirk, who worked on growth and morphogenesis of Stirkia juliae (A.Millar) Barros-Barreto & Maggs, comb. nov.