''Calliarthron'' is a genus containing two species of thalloid intertidal

alga Algae ( , ; : alga ) are any of a large and diverse group of photosynthetic, eukaryotic organisms. The name is an informal term for a polyphyletic grouping that includes species from multiple distinct clades. Included organisms range from u ...

. Specimens can reach around 30 cm in size. The thalli take a crustose form. The organisms lack secondary pit connections. ''Calliarthron'' reproduces by means of

conceptacle Conceptacles are specialized cavities of marine and freshwater algae that contain the reproductive organs. They are situated in the receptacle and open by a small ostiole.Boney, A.D. (1969). ''A Biology of Marine Algae''. Hutchinson Educational Ltd ...

s; it produces tetraspores, dispores and carpospores. The genus has

lignin Lignin is a class of complex organic polymers that form key structural materials in the support tissues of most plants. Lignins are particularly important in the formation of cell walls, especially in wood and bark, because they lend rigidity ...

and contains secondary cell walls, traits which are normally associated with the

vascular plant Vascular plants (), also called tracheophytes () or collectively Tracheophyta (), form a large group of land plants ( accepted known species) that have lignified tissues (the xylem) for conducting water and minerals throughout the plant. They ...

s. It is similar to the genus '' Bossiella''. ''Calliarthron'' is calcified, but also has uncalcified joints that allow it to flex in response to the waves to which it is subjected. These joints start out calcified, and decalcify as they grow older. After decalcifying they grow much longer, then fatten themselves up in the same way as xylem formation, resulting in secondary walls.

Species

The 2 species currently recognised are:Paul W. Gabrielson, Kathy Ann Miller, and Patrick T. Martone (2011) Morphometric and molecular analyses confirm two distinct species of Calliarthron (Corallinales, Rhodophyta), a genus endemic to the northeast Pacific. Phycologia: May 2011, Vol. 50, No. 3, pp. 298-316. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.2216/10-42.1 *'' Calliarthron tuberculosum'' *'' Calliarthron cheilosporioides''

References

External links

Images
of ''Calliarthron'' at

Algaebase AlgaeBase is a global species database of information on all groups of algae, both marine and freshwater, as well as sea-grass. History AlgaeBase began in March 1996, founded by Michael Guiry. Text was copied from this source, which is ava ...

Corallinaceae Red algae genera {{Rhodophyta-stub