Martensia sp. (genus)

A red algae at Green Cape, NSW

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Identification history

Martensia sp. (genus)	30 Apr 2018	offshore
Martensia australis	2 Jul 2017	Jennyncmg
Unidentified	30 Mar 2017	RoyandJenny

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User's notes

Sighted in narrow channel on a rock shelf, but this specimen had pretty clearly come adrift. Size approx. 4cm x 3 cm. The iridescence and fluorescent colours were striking.

4 comments

RoyandJenny wrote:

12 Jul 2017

Bob Baldock of the State Herbarium of South Australia has offered a key (source: Huisman and Walker) indicating this specimen may be M. fragilis. However the ID may have to remain tentative without a specimen for microscopic analysis. I am planning to consult John Huisman for further clarification. Thanks, Roy

RoyandJenny wrote:

26 Dec 2017

Extract from correspondence with John Huisman:

“Millar in 1990 recorded 3 species from Coffs Harbour and your plants would undoubtedly be one of those. But, what to call them? Other than M. australis, the others have type localities in Ceylon and South Africa, which means that it’s unlikely that the NSW specimens actually represent those species. There are seemingly many more species out there than we might have expected. The only way to deal with this is to collect specimens from the type localities, get a DNA sequence to barcode the species, then use those for comparison....(and for now) maybe stick with Martensia sp.”

So please, any assistance now with collecting potential type specimens for the State Herbaria (with permits where appropriate) will be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Roy

Jennyncmg wrote:

27 Dec 2017

Thanks for the extra information. I will keep my eye open for the alga around Batemans coast but have never noticed it here.

RoyandJenny wrote:

28 Dec 2017

Thanks for your encouragement Jenny. There are a couple of issues here. I'm sure you'd be aware that type specimens can only originate from their associated type location. (For example, we've just spent a fun but frustrating time searching for M. australis around Albany, it's type location). Often these will be "out of territory" for the Atlas of Life, but I'm guessing can't help but benefit local sightings in the longer term? Next, apart from the macro alga genus Martensia, I've so far been unsuccessful in getting a list of priority genera and/or species that Citizen Scientists like us might usefully contribute to, by finding candidates for missing type specimens. Also frustrating. I'm hoping to further this discussion in 2018 with the likes of Bob Baldock, John Huisman and possibly others. Wish me luck, and all input most welcome! Thanks again.

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