Gongolaria montagnei (J.Agardh) Kuntze

Marletta, Giuliana & Lombardo, Andrea, 2023, The Fucales (Ochrophyta, Phaeophyceae) of the Island of Pantelleria (Sicily Channel, Mediterranean Sea): a new contribution, Italian Botanist 15, pp. 137-163 : 137

Gongolaria montagnei (J.Agardh) Kuntze

Fig. 17A-C

Cystoseira montagnei J. Agardh. Basionym.

Cystoseira spinosa Sauvageau, Cystoseira adriatica Sauvageau, Phyllacantha montagnei (J. Agardh) Kützing, Treptacantha montagnei (J. Agardh) Orellana & Sansón, Treptacantha ballesterosii Orellana & Sansón. Synonyms.

Morphology of specimens from Pantelleria.

G. montagnei is a non-caespitose species, fixed to the substrate by a robust discoid holdfast. The axis is trunk-like and cylindrical, unbranched or poorly branched. The apex is spinose and not prominent. Primary branches are cylindrical and bear numerous sparse bifid or multifid spinose appendages. Secondary branches are shorter and less branched, with divaricate and bifid spinose appendages. This species has oblong and spinose tophules. During scuba dives, we observed new primary branches arising from tophules. During the monitoring activities, this species was not found fertile.

Habitat.

This species was observed during scuba dives at Punta Spadillo, Cala Levante and Cala Tramontana, in the middle-lower infralittoral (from 8 down to a depth of 22 m).

Distribution.

G. montagnei is widely distributed in the Mediterranean Sea ( Blanfuné et al. 2022).

Figures

Figure 17. Gongolaria montagnei A habit B detail of not prominent and spinose apex C preliminary appearance of new primary branches from tophules.