Main Page  |   References

Hincksia mitchelliae (Harvey) Silva

 

Hincksia mitchelliae (Harvey) Silva

Description: Plants filamentous, in tufts or mats, 2-3(12) cm high, brown-green; branching irregular, forming as lateral projections. Filaments (17)30-50 um diam.; apices tapering to 15 um diam.; cells 1-4 diam. long, division mainly intercalary. Stolons filamentous, with fine rhizoids. Plurilocular sporangia cylindrical, often with slight taper at apex, 15-36 um diam. Unilocular sporangia rare, oval, sessile, 25-50 um diam. and 50-100 um long.

Introduction and Origin: Native to Hawaii.

Hawaiian Distribution: Kauai, Oahu.

Habitat: Less than 1 m deep, inconspicuous, on rocks or epiphytic on other algae.

Environmental Effects: Not studied. May affect recruitment of other species by successfully competing for substrate.

World Distribution: Moorea, Tahiti. Florida, Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean

Commercial Interests: None.

Rate of Spread / Method: Growth rates unknown. Dispersal by fragmentation and vegetative growth (filaments have diffuse growth), motile gametes, and zoospores.

Factors likely to influence Spread and Distribution: Temperature, high nutrients availability.

Reasons for Success: Rapid growth rate, high nutrients availability. Low surface to volume ratio ensures fast nutrient uptake. Diffuse growth of filaments facilitates vegetative propagation through fragmentation.

Control Methods: None used.

References: