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Science 10 June 1977:
Vol. 196. no. 4295, pp. 1206 - 1208
DOI: 10.1126/science.196.4295.1206
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Articles

Antarctic Marine Flora: Uniquely Devoid of Kelps

RICHARD L. MOE 1 and PAUL C. SILVA 1

1 University Herbarium, Department of Botany, University of California, Berkeley 94720

The discovery of embryonic stages of the common large Antarctic brown seaweed Himantothallus has led to the conclusion that this plant, hitherto assigned equivocally to the Laminariales (kelps), is a member of the Desmarestiales. Moreover, field study of a large sample of Himantothallus and two other enigmatic brown algae, Phyllogigas and Phaeoglossum, has led to the merger of these three genera with the recognition of a single species, Himantothallus grandifolius. The correct placement of these kelp-like algae underscores the uniqueness of the Antarctic marine flora as the only cold-water flora without kelps.

Submitted on August 6, 1976
Revised on September 28, 1976

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)