Phacelocarpus neurymenioides sp. nov. (Rhodophyta, Phacelocarpaceae): a new marine alga from Fiji

A new species of the red algal genus Phacelocarpus, of the monogeneric family Phacelocarpaceae, is reported and described for the first time for Fiji, South Pacific. Phacelocarpus neueymenioides differs from other members of the genus in a number of characters. It has a broad blade (up to 9 mm wide), with new blades arising irregularly from the midrib. The alae terminate in short marginal serrations that are less than ten percent of the blade width. Stalked cystocarps, and tetrasporangial and spermatangial nemathecia are borne on the center of the midrib. In its vegetative morphology. P. neueymenioides bears a remarkable resemblance to the genus Neurymenia, with which it may occur on the reef slope.