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152 Phycologia, Vol. 50 (2), 2011

Figs 27–30. Gametangial conceptacles of Lithothamnion crispatum from Marettimo Island (Sicily).
Fig. 27. Longitudinal section through the protuberance of a male plant showing raised uniporate spermatangial conceptacles (mc). LM
photograph, DMF3B slide 22. Scale bar 5 200 mm.
Fig. 28. Longitudinal section through a male conceptacle showing dendroid (branched) spermatangial systems (sp) on the floor, and
simple (unbranched) spermatangial systems on the walls and roof of the conceptacle chamber. LM photograph, DMF3B slide 23. Scale
bar 5 100 mm.
Fig. 29. Detailed view of the male conceptacle chamber floor showing the dendroid (branched) spermatangial systems. LM photograph,
FMU2B slide 4. Scale bar 5 25 mm.
Fig. 30. Longitudinal section of a female plant showing presumed carposporangial conceptacle chambers (c). LM photograph, FMU1A
slide 6. Scale bar 5 200 mm.

Keats et al. (2000) and da No´ brega Farias et al. (2010) to with, and thus heterotypic synonyms of Lithothamnion
merge L. indicum and L. hetromorphum, respectively, into crispatum Hauck (1878), the latter having nomenclatural
L. superpositum, and it is used now to establish the priority in terms of the ICBN Art. 11.4 (McNeill et al.
conspecificity of L. superpositum with L. crispatum. 2006).

The vegetative and reproductive features and biometry of In some southern Mediterranean specimens, a zone of
the lectotype of L. crispatum Hauck fully correspond to large perithallial cells occasionally occurs at the surface
those of the freshly collected Mediterranean material and to (Fig. 10). Keats et al. (2000) considered this character to be
those of the lectotype of L. indicum and L. heteromorphum diagnostic of L. superpositum; however, Harvey et al.
(Table 1). Lithothamnion indicum and Lithothamnion het- (2003) could not detect this feature in southeastern
eromorphum are, however, considered heterotypic syno- Australian material. Layers of larger (longer) perithallial
nyms of L. superpositum (Keats et al. 2000; Harvey et al. cells are described in many Lithothamnion species and
2003; da No´ brega Farias 2009; da No´ brega Farias et al. commonly related to temporary (seasonal) change in
2010). These taxa (Lithothamnion indicum Foslie, 1907, growth rate (Lemoine 1911; Adey & Adey 1973; Basso
Lithothamnion heteromorphum Foslie 1908 and Lithotham- 1995; Wilks & Woelkerling 1995; Halfar et al. 2000; Basso
nion superpositum Foslie, 1900) are therefore conspecific et al. 2004).