RE-DISCOVERY OF MESOGLOEA BRASILIE NSIS MONTAGNE

by Aylthon B. J oly Department of Botany, University of 8. Paulo, Brazil

As is common, many plants described long ago havr llot beell reported since their first discovery. This is the case with many Brazilian species. As early as 1843, Montagne in his "Quatriemecenturie de plantes cel­lulaires éxotiques nouvelles, Décade VII ", on p. 304-305 under n.O 68, gave a brief description of a new species, which he ascribed to the genus Mesogloea and to which he gave the specific name b1·asiliensis. The ma­terial had been collected by Gaudichaud (n.o 51 fide Kützing, 1849, p. 53.4) in the vicinity of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Three years later, the same author, reporting the algae collected during the "Voyage de la Bonite" (1846 Tome I p. 28-29) gave a long and more complete diagnosis of the same planto Unfortunately this seÇ!ond description, ,giving accurate microscopic measurements, was çom­pletely overlooked after its publicátion, until the presept writer, by happy chance, carne across this supplementary diagnosis. The references ·so far found in the literature are concerned exclusively with the first descrip­tion: cf. Agardh (1848 p. 58), Kützing (1849 p. 534), De Toni (1895 p. 427), Taylor (1931 p. 294), Levring (1939 p. 46). Kylin (1940) in his monograph of the family Chordon'aceae, llnfortunatelydid not even mention the planto .. '

We tliink it is now pro per to give a descúption, photograph and drawings 'based on new collections recently made by th.e author, on the assumption that our plant and Montagne 's are identical. (See later discussion) .

Levringia brasiliensis (Montagne) comb. nov.

Plants up to 10-13 em high (commonly 6-8 cm) and 1,U2-2 mm in diameter, brown-greenish in 'colour when alive and adhering well to the paper whlm dried under pressure; sparingly ramified at the base, usually with one predominant branch, more or less cylindrical throughout. Hold­fast distlnct, originating from a basal disc (cf. Parke, 1933 p. 8) but no longer recognisable in the adult plant, firm, formed by the compaeted medullary fílaments which are colourrd deeply iby a )'ellow:'brown subs-tance. <

Thallus composed of two distinct portiolls: a medulla with colourless filaments rUllning from apex to base, and a cortica] layer formed 'of

HE-DISCOVERY OF ME S OGLOEA BII.A S JU ENSJ S 1VIONTAGNE

by A ylthm~ B . J oly DCI):l rtlll cn t of HO t.11l.", Ull i,.cr~il.'· of IS. P, ... 10, Brn1.;1

As is commou, many plallts des(' l'ibl'd lUll!! II~O Iml'" 11 01 beCII n~portcd si llce thei r first discove ry. 'l'his is the CIlM~ wit.h mllll," Bnll~ilia ll SpCCiCf;. As ear ly as 1843, Montagne in his" QUHt riiml(' Ci'Htur-ie de plantes eel· Ililaires e:o:ot. i(IUCS nouvelles, Decade \' 11 ", on p. 30-!-305 under 11.° 68, gave Il brief descl'iption of 11 Il e w spccies. which he ascribed to th e genus M esoyloea and to wh ich he g'IIV C til(' SI)('Cifi c mllnc bl'lI .~jfic 'I!.~i.~ . 'rhe ma­tel'ial had been collected by Gu udichuud ( n." 51 fide Kiitziu g. 1849, p. 5;~4) ill the vicinity of Hio de Jlluei ro, Bral.il.

Three years late l', t he same 811 lhol', re pol'ti ll :,! the 1I1:,!1I\' cu llected during the " Voyage dc 1a Bonite" (1846 'I'ome 1 p. 28-29 ) gave ». IOllg and more complete dialInosis of the sli me phHlt. Un fOl'tun atel,r t his second descr iption, .g iving" acc nrate microscopic ll1enSIU'(,llIents, lI"as COIll ­

pletely overlooked after its pn bli \'alioll, unt il the Il rcsc.nt Wl"itC'l', by happy clHUlce, came aeross this stlJlph'Illf'lltllr.\· diagnosis. 'fhe re[('renees so far fo und in t h(' l iterllture are COIlI' l'I'!l('d l'xc1w;i\'(' I.I· with Ihl' first df'scri l'­tion : cL Agardh (1848 p. 58 ), Kii lJ': illg" (1849 p. 534 ), De T oni ( 18% p. 427 ), '1'ay-Ior ( 1931 p. 2!H ) , r ... {'\'!'ing ( Hl:39 p. 46 ) . Kylin ( 19·10) in his monograph of the fllllli l.l' ( ' /tfll"ff(ll·i(J(' c(lc. nnfol"tu llll t..' i ~' did uo! ('\'ell mention the plant.

'Ve tliillk it is now ])1'0 1)('1' to give II descr iption, photograph and drllwings based on lIew collrctiows I"ccell tiy mad l' by the author, on til(' usstlm pl ioll thllt 0111' pilln t ani! Montllj!nc 's 111'(' i<1('llliclI l. (Rf'r lutcr d iscussion ).

I, evrinyia br(j;;iliCII;;i.~ (Monta:,!II l') (·olllb. 1101' .

Plants up to l O·l 3clll hi}!h (f'uIJlIlIOTll.\· H-8el!) ) a ud J ,~ /2-2111m it! diameter , brown-green ish i ll ('ololll' when al ivc lind adhc I'ill:! well t.o til(' paper when dried unde l' pr('ssu r('; sparingly ramifi ed al til(' bllSt' , us ually wit h one prcd omi nan t branch , more or less cr lindrical thronghout. H old ­fnst d istinct, OI'iginati ng 1"1'01ll 11 basn] disc ( el". l'>ark(', 1933 p. 8) hu t no longer recognisa ble in the adl1 lt plant , ii l' lll , POI·tnf'd by the COll'llHct.ed m edullf1ry . filaments which ill'P ('olnHl'pct £1e(' )) I:" by it .\"(· tl ow-b wWll snbs­!lInce.

Thallus composed of: two distinc" pOI·tions: a llH'uulla with colourless fi la ll1f>nl s I'nnnillg' from illlt'X to bllS£' . and a cortical hIY" r fnrnwd of

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filaments radialIy disposed and richly ramified. For an account of the general internaI organization see Kuckuck (1929), Parkc (1933) and Kylin (1940).

MedulIary filaments composed of elongated celIs, 56 X 9,6 /-'- (Plate 1 figo 1) with very thin walIs, usualIy dichotomizing before giving off the assimilatory layers. Partition membranes sometimes curiously sinua­ted. The medulIary filaments and the rhizoid-like outgrowth from them are intenyoven, forming a rather firm pseudo-parenchyma. The rhizoids running 10ngitudinalIy OI' perpendicularly to the medulIary filaments, grow out from special celIs which are smalI, sub-quadrate to r ectangular and placed at irregular intervals between the elongated cells of the me­dullary threads. These rhizoids appear as opposite pairs OI' in threes, have a diameter of about 4,8 /-,-, are formed of elongated celIs with a more OI' less irregular outline.

The cortical portions are formed by filaments starting from the medulIa, having in their basal parts cells bearing rhizoid-like formations which are slightly thicker than those of the medulla (6-9/-,- indiameter). The cortical filaments are composed of very irregular cells at their bases, with more OI' less round outlines (Plate 1 figo 2) varying from 16 to 48/-,­in length and about 16 to 22 /-'- in diameter. The ramification is abundant, usually dichotomous, chiefly basal. Assimilatory filaments measure up to 1035 /-'- in their free unramified portion, with cells rcaching 14-16 /-'- (dia­meter) and 12 /-'- in length at the base. The upper portions (Plate 1 figo 4 ) have much more elongated cells, up to 40 /-'- in l~nght. Cells of the assimilatory filaments and some of the upper cells of the ~ortical portions are filled with chromatophores. These chromatophores are small, appearing as round bodies not very numerou:;; in each cell.

Plurilocular sporangia (Plate 1 figs. 3,5,6) are terminally placed 011

special lateral branchlets starting from the very base of the assimilatory filaments. The size is variable, up to 125 /-'- long (slightly longer than Montagne's measurements) and with a diameter of 25.6/-,- in the broadcr part, and enc1ing in an usually rounded tip, with a more 01' less irregular shape. The sporangia are quite distinct from the surrouding filaments by their dense and dark contents. Unilocular sporangia were not found. "

The plant above described ' and figured (see figo 1) seems to us to represent the same species once found by Gaudichaud and described by Montagne as Mesogloea brasiliensis. Unfortunately the descriptions alone are not sufficient to secure a complete identification. The plant, being the only known member of the family Chordariaceae assigned to Brazil (cf. Taylor 1931, p. 294) is quite probably identical with that of the earlier colIection. '

(* ) After I saw the first pl'oofs of this papel' I received through the kindness of Dl'. J. Feldmann of the "Institut Océanographique" of the University of Paris, drawings and measurements of the plurilocular sporangia taken from Montagne 's original planto They are in accordance with the measurements presented in this paper. I wish to express my best thanks to Dl'. F eldmann for his interest.

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Levring (1939 p. 46), is of the opinion that the plant is identical to Levringia sordiâa (Bory) Kylin, and though he had never seen the original material or new collections of M. brasiliensis, he placed it under the synonymy of the first mentioned species, in this particular agreeing with the earlier opinion of Kützing (1849 p. 534 under Thorea) , who had the opportunity of seeing the original planto ICylin (1940), appa­rently accepted this point of view because he did not refer to this species when he monographed the family.

Apparently the only reason why the plant has passed under the synonymy of L. sordida, is the careful treatment by Montagne, who, knowing the plant referred to by Bory only by its name (cf. Montagne 1843 and 1846) and thinking it better to give a new name to his plant, possibly because the plant had been found in a locality so far distaut from that reported by Bory, stated nevertheless his suspicion of its pos­sible identity with Bory's planto

Levringia sordida (Bory) ICylin has been found on Ascension Island (South Atlantic) and from the figures given by Levring (1.c. p. 45, figo

::3 F-G) one can see that his plaut and ours are morphologically closely rela­ted but by no means identical- compare with our figure 5. Our plant has the sporangia placed on special short and ramified branchlets, located at the base of the assimilatory filaments, forming groups at least of four sporangia for each primary branchlet and not like the ones figured by Levring. Our plant seems to be about the same size but slightly thicker than L. sordida, as compared with the measurements given by Bory (1828 p. 139) and Levring (1. C. p. 46), L. sordida has sporangia up to 125 p. long and 14 p. broad. The cells of the assimilatory filaments are up to 30 p. long and 15 p. broad. These measurements are of course within tht: range of variation found in our species, being the mature sporangia of our piant about 10 p. wider than those of L. sordida, but this apparently has no sharp specific value, if we accept ICylin's concept of species in this genus. Cf. Kylin 1940, where he gives equal measurements (for sporangia and assimilatory filaments) to 3 different species: L. natalensis, L. fili­formis and L. Borgesenii (cf. Kylin L C. p. 15-16).

From the other six species of the genus, (*) L. brasiliensis is easily dis­tinguished by its structural features being the only known species with a relatively broad sporangia - up to 25.6 p. of diameter. N evertheless it clearly belongs to the group of species which includes: L. sordida (Bory ) Kylin and L. atlantica (Feldm.) Kylin, both from South Atlantic and L. Decaryii Feldm., from Madagascal', recently described by Feldmann,

('-) By the time I saw the second proofs of this papel', Prof. Pierre Dangeard, of the Faculté des Sciences de Bordeaux, very kindly sent me on request his: "Algues de la presqu'ile du Cap Vert (Dakar) et de ses environs". Le Botaniste 36,1-6: 195-329 (incl. pl. XIV-XXI). 1952. On pages 234-237 two species of Levringia are studied by Dr. J. Feldmann: L. atlantica and Levringia sp. Dr. J. Feldmann suggests the possible identity of this plant with Montagne 's Mesogloia brasiliensis varo natalensis of earlier record in that regicm.

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< 1945) alI of which possess rather long sporangia. The remaining species: L. natalensis (Kütz.) Kylin, L. filiformis Kylin and L. Borgesenii Kylin have a relatively short and somewhat broad sporangia (Cf. measurements given by Kylin, 1946).

The plant has been found in a very limited area on the southern ~oast of BraziL It has been colIected abundantly in the folIowing loca­lities: Itanhaen (240 9' Lat. S., 46° 47' Long. W.) and Peruibe, both in the State of S. Paulo; Matinhos, Caiobá and Guaratuba (250 52' Lat. S., 480 35' Long. W.) in the State of Paraná. Fruiting material was colIected .d.uring the months of November to February. (1)

It is interesting to note that the plant, actualIy a component of the intertidal association on the rocky shores of Southern Brazil, is frequently found growing upon Mytilus, one of the organisms characteristic of bertain coastal features in the tropical South Atlantic, and thus on the same substrate as reported by Montagne (1843 p . 305; 1846 p. 29).

Acknowledgments

This paper was prepared under a felIowship sponsored by The RockfelIer Foundation, at the Departmen't of Botany, University of Michigan. For ' the facilities provided here I am greatly indebted to Prof. K. L. Jones, Chairman of the Department and to Prof. Wm. R. Taylor for continuous assistance. Mr. John Blum kindly revised the manuscript. In connection with this study the author has had the oppor­tunity of seeing fragments of authentic material of Levringia natalensis ( Kütz.) Kylin, through the kindness of Prof. G. F. Papenfuss.

RESUMO

No presente trabalho o autor refere o achado de uma planta coletada uma única vez no litoral sul do BrasiL Além de uma nova descrição é também proposta uma nova combinação em conformidade com a moderna llomenclat).lra ficológica.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

AGARDH, J. G. 1848, Species Genera et Ordines Algarum. I: I-VIII' + 1-363. Lund.

BORY DE ST. VICENT, J_ B. 1828, Botanique. Cryptogamie, in L. 1. Duperrey. Voyage autour du monde ... La Coquille: 97-200. Paris.

(1) When this paper was finished the author received from Prof_ Wm. R. . Taylor, Uruguayan material, collected by D. Legrand (n.o 3705) which proved to be the same species referred to above, thus increasing much the are a of distribution of Levringia brasiliensis. Some of the Uruguayan specimens seen are a little more ramified at the base than some of the Brazilian. plants.

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DE TONI, J. B. 1895, Sylloge AIgarum. 3: I-XVI + 1-638. Padova.

FELDMANN, J. 1945, Une nouvelle espece de Levringia (Phaeophyceae, Chordariales) du Sud de Madagascar. Bull. Mus. 2e. sér. 17 (4): 340-34l.

KUCKUCK, P. 1929, Fragmente einer Monographie der Phaeosporen. Herausgegeben von W. Nienburg. Wissensch. Meeresunters. Kom. zur Unters. der Deutsch. Meere in Kiel u. der BioI. Aust. auf Helgoland. N. F. Abt. Helgoland. Bd. 17 Abhand. 4: 1-93.

KüTZINa, F. T. 1849, Species algarum. 1-922. Leipzig.

KYLIN, H. 1940, Die Phaeophyceenordnung Chordariales. Lunds Univ. Arssk. N. F. Avd. 2 Bd. 36 (9): 1-67.8 pI.

LEVRING, T. 1939, über die Phaeophyceengattungen Myriogloia Kuck. und Haplo­gloia novo gen. Botan. N ot. 1939: 40-52 .

MONTAGNE, J. F. C. 1843, Quatrieme centurie de- plantes cellulaires éxotiques nOllvelles. Décade VII. Ann. Se. N ato Bot. 2e. sér. 20: 294-306.

MONTAGNE, J. F. C. 1846, In C. Beaupré Gaudichaud, Botanique. Cryptogames cellu­laires. AIgues, lichens, hépatiques et mousses. "In" A. N. Vaillant, "Voyage autour du monde exécuté pendant ... la Bonite". 1: I-XI + 1-355. Paris.

PARKE, M. 1933, A contribution to knowledge of the Mesogloiaceae and associated families. PubI. of the Hartley Bot. Lab. 9: 1-43. PI. I-XI. LiverpooI.

TAYLOR, Wm. R. 1931, A synopsis of the marine algae of BraziI. Rev. AIg. 5 (3-4): 279-313.

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DE TO:-rr, J. n. 1895, Syllogc Algnrmll. 3: I-XVI + ) ·638. P adovn.

FELDMANN, J. 1945, Une noun!llo ospi.-ee do Levringia (Phaeophyeene, CbordarinJcs) du Sud do i\[ndngnsear. Bull. "Mus. 20. WT. 17 (4) : 340-341.

KUCRUCK, P. 1929, Fragrnente einer Monographic der Phneosporen. I1ernusgegeben \'on W. Nicnburg. WillllCnseh. MeerOSlllltera. Kom. zu r UnteTs. der Dcutach. Meere in Kicl u. de r BioI. AUBt. lIut H clgolrmd. N. }', Ab!.. Helgoland. Bd. 17 ,\bhand. 4: }·93.

T<QTZINO', F . T. HMO, Speeies algnnun. J·922. Leipzig.

KYLl.:.'f, H. 1940, Die Phnoophycccnordnung Chordnriales. r~und~ Uni\'. :'r~sk . N. F. Avd. 2 Bd. 36 (9): }·67.8 pl.

L EVIUNO, T. 1939, 'Ober die Phneophyceengnttungcn Myriogloia Kuck. nnd Haplo­gloin nOl-, gen. Bolan. Not. )930: 40-52.

}'IQ N'l'AGNE, J . . f'. C. 1843, Quatrieme centurie do JI\ant(~9 eelln\nires exotiquce nouvelles. Decade VI I. AnlL. Se. Nat.. Bot. 20. aero 20: 294-306.

MONTAGNE, J . I'. C. 1846, I n C. Beaupre Gaudiehaud, Botanique. Cryptogames oollu­lai res. Algues, lichens, Mpatiques et moullses. "In" A. N. Vaillant, "Voyage .1utour du monde exl'\eute pendant . .. la Bonite". 1: I-XI + 1-355. Paris.

P.-\ R I< E, M. 1933, A cont rilmtion to knowledge of the McsogloiatetIC and associa ted fnmilies. Pub!. of the Hartl(lY Bot. Lab. !): 1·43. PI. I -X l . Liverpool.

TA YLOR, \VOl. R. 1931, A synopsis of the llIarine algae of Brazil. !l(l\'. Alg. 5 ( 3·4 ) : 2i9·313 .

'l'EXT t 'W, 1

L ev r ingia bl'asilie'll8is ( Montaglle ) J 01)'

Group of six plants frolll Itnn haen , S, Paulo,

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PLA'J' K I

LeV1"ingia bmsiliens'Í,s (Montagne) Joly

Figure 1 - CoIourIess medullary filamento

Figure 2 - BasaI portion of a sterile branch in the assimilatory layer. N ote the dichotoll1ous pattern of branching and the rounded outline of the cells.

Figure 3

E'igure 4

Figure 5

BasaI portion. of a fertile branch of the assimilatory layer. Four young sporangia are seen in different stages of developll1ent. The Iong unbranched fiIamcnt at the right is the basaI part of the fl-ee assimiIator.

UppeI' portion of a fl'ee assill1ilator.

l!'our developing sporangia, growing from a single lateral branchlet.

Mature sporangia.

~'igU tol

Figure 2

~'ig"re 3

Pigute 4

Figure fi

- ..J.4 i

,', .... ,.r. 1

l,eVri"yi(, br(JNilie,,~ix ( ) IOIII"1.:lIe) .I ul ...

ColourleSll medullary filanl';:lIt.

I.l nsal portion of II stcrile bralleh in the IIssimilator)" Il • .'"er. dichotomous pattern of bTill1ching ll1ld the rouuded outline of

Sote the the eell~.

Eusal por t ion of n fertile branch of the auimillltory layer. ~'our )" OUIII( sporllngi" are $Cell ill differen t stnges of developlllent. The IOllg unbr"lIched filame nt at the right i8 t he bllsal part of the rr ... e assimilator.

Upper portion or a free "ssimilator.

Fou r de"eloping sporangia. g rowing frolll II sillgle lateral bran"hl,·"

)IHtnrr' sporn nj:("iJi.

PLATE 1

r ~\ 4