Preliminary studies on Kumanoa zeylanica (Batrachospermales, Batrachospermaceae) reported from the Western Ghats of India

Abstract

The Western Ghats are among the biodiversity hot spots of India, in which certain regions have been earlier studied for red algal diversity. Keeping this in mind, the Western Ghats and its associated areas were surveyed, which revealed the presence of many fresh water red algae species, including Kumanoa zeylanica from Coorg District of Karnataka State. The alga identified in the present study was earlier reported from the same state but 350 km (north) towards Belagavi, Karnataka. Morphological data of the current specimen showed more than 95% similarity with the species K. zeylanica in cluster analysis. Morphological characters like a distinct centrally inserted carposporophyte and contorted carpogonial branches allowed to categorize the alga under the genus Kumnaoa. Morphological and morphometric data on the carposporophyte, carposporangium, trichogyne, spermatia, and fascicle cells are very similar to that of the K. zeylanica reported by Balakrishnan and Chaugule in 1980.