Molecular analysis resolves the taxonomy of the Laurencia complex (Rhodomelaceae, Ceramiales) in Bermuda and uncovers novel species of Chondrophycus and Laurenciella Author Popolizio, Thea R. Department of Biology, Salem State University, Salem, Massachusetts, 01970 (United States) tpopolizio @ salemstate. edu (corresponding author) Author Schneider, Craig W. Author Jongbloed, Walter M. Department of Biology, Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, 06106 (United States) Author Saunders, Gary W. Centre for Environmental & Molecular Algal Research, Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E 3 B 5 A 3 (Canada) Author Lane, Christopher E. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, 02881 (United States) text Cryptogamie, Algologie 2022 2022-01-26 20 1 1 30 http://dx.doi.org/10.5252/cryptogamie-algologie2022v43a1 journal article 10.5252/cryptogamie-algologie2022v43a1 1776-0984 Laurencia microcladia Kützing ( Figs 2 , 3 ) Tabulae phycologicae : 22, pl. 60, figs b, c (1865). DISTRIBUTION . — Bermuda , Florida, Central America, Caribbean, Brazil , Mediterranean, Azores, Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, North Africa, Arabian Gulf, Singapore , Vietnam , Polynesia, Samoa (Guiry & Guiry 2021). DESCRIPTION Plants to 6.5 cm tall, fleshy, green to deep purplish-red, often with distinct purple-red branchlet tips, forming clumps with several associated upright axes; individual axes narrowly pyramidal or sometimes with secondary branches not varying much in length from base to tip of main axes; main axes to 0.5 mm diam. with discoidal holdfasts; densely irregularly branched in all directions, some branches clustered creating a whorled appearance; branchlets clavate to narrowly turbinate, to 2 mm long; densely clustered ultimate branches imparting a verrucose appearance. Vegetative axes with 4 pericentral cells; secondary pit connections present; in surface view cortical cells 15-50 µm diam., irregularly rounded to rounded rectangular in upper branch regions, elongate-angular to elongate-ovoid below; corps en cerise present; outer cortical cell projections absent. In transverse section, outer cortical cells appearing subquadrate or campanulate to ovoid, 12-36µm diam.; medullary cells 45-120 µm diam. Branch tips with deep apical pits, trichoblasts emerging from the pits, dichotomously branched to 6 or more orders, and expanding in diam. distally.Tetrasporangia arranged parallel to axis ( Saito 1967 , p. 71), spherical to slightly ovoid, 60-100 µm diam. ( Fig. 3B, C ); cystocarps urn-shaped, situated near branchlet tips, 600-820 µm diam. ( Fig. 3D ), carposporangia obpyriform, 30-60 µm diam. and 80-125 µm long. Spermatia formed in dense fascicles issued from lower portions of trichoblasts, spherical to obovoid, 2-3 µm diam.