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Apoglossum ruscifolium (Turner) J Agardh
Le Jolis
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RHODOPHYCEAE
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(sprung tongue leaf)
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| Photo details | ||
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Plant in understorey of open coast kelp forest (3m below chart datum) with linear tetrasporangial sori just visible either side of the midrib. Scale: Individual plants approximately 4 cm high Location:StAnthony's Point, The Fal, Cornwall - Photographer:F. Bunker - Date:12/10/2001 - Identified By:F. Bunker - Verified By:C. Maggs |
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| Identification Notes | ||
| Erect axes giving rise to primary blades 2 to 10 cm in length and up to 0.8 cm wide with a conspicuous midrib 250 to 400 µm in width. These blades are normally simple but may be dichotomously or alternately branched. The lamella of lower bladelets wears away giving plants a stipe-like midrib 650 µm in diameter bearing tattered blade-like remnants. Lateral blades arise from this midrib at irregular intervals on both sides of the blades and these can bear a further 3 to 4 orders of branching. blades are stipitate, ovate to lanceolate in shape with obtuse to pointed apices and in males, they are strongly ruffled. Other characterising features: Spermatangial sori are formed on either side of the midrib on both sides of the blades, covering about half the blade width, and are divided by conspicuous sterile striae over the microveins 35 to 55 µm thick. cystocarps are formed singly or several per blade and are hemispherical when mature (540 to 720 µm in diameter and 500 µm high). Tetrasporangial sori are borne on either side of midrib in a continuous or discontinuous line along both sides of the blade (1 to 6 mm long, 250 to 360 µm wide and 130 to 185 µm thick). Maggs & Hommersand, 1993 |
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| Confusion | ||
| Apoglossum ruscifolium can readily be distinguished from Hypoglossum hypoglossoides by the presence of lateral microveins and the much smaller blade cells which are <20 µm in A. ruscifolium compared to > 60µm in H. hypoglossoides. |
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| Habitat | ||
| Bedrock and epiphytic on Laminaria hyperborea stipes and smaller algae, in pools and shaded places on the lower shore and subtidally to at least 17 m, occurring as a characteristic component of L hyperborea forest underflora, but it is most abundant in the supralittoral fringe where kelp is sparse or absent. Grows in a variety of conditions at sheltered to extremely wave exposed sites. |
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| Recorded distribution | ||
| Generally distributed around the British Isles northwards to Shetland although there are few records from the east coast. |
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| Researched by | ||
| F. Bunker / C. Maggs |
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| Synonyms | ||
| Acknowledgements | ||
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Additional Photos
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| Plant in understorey of open coast kelp forest (3m below chart datum) with linear tetrasporangial sori just visible either side of the midrib. Scale: Individual plants approximately 4 cm high Location:StAnthony's Point, The Fal, Cornwall - Photographer:F. Bunker - Date:12/10/2001 - Identified By:F. Bunker - Verified By:C. Maggs | ||
| Plant in tray showing old stipe-like midrib (with tattered and worn lamellae) giving rise to new blades arranged at irregular intervals on both sides. Note the generally rounded nature of the apices and the ruffled edges to the lamellae. Plants from a lower shore rock pool. Scale: Length of plant 2.5 cm Location:Wembury, Devon - Photographer:F. Bunker - Date:19/04/2004 - Identified By:F. Bunker - Verified By:C. Maggs | ||
| Detail on new blade showing rounded apex, microveins and tetrasporangial spore patches in rows either side of the midrib. Plants from a lower shore rock pool. Scale: Width of midrib appoximately 300 μm Location:Wembury, Devon - Photographer:F. Bunker - Date:19/04/2004 - Identified By:F. Bunker - Verified By:C. Maggs | ||
| Detail showing microveins and tetrasporangial spore patches in rows either side of the midrib. Plants from a lower shore rock pool. Scale: Width of midrib appoximately 300 μm Location:Wembury, Devon - Photographer:F. Bunker - Date:19/04/2004 - Identified By:F. Bunker - Verified By:C. Maggs | ||
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