Acrochaetium botryocarpum (Harv.) J. Ag. (Rhodophyta) in Southern Australia

The morphology, ecology, cytology and systematics of Acrochaetium botryocarpum (Harv.) J. Ag. have been studied. This species occurs throughout the year in southern Australia and grows on a variety of hosts. The variable appearance of the prostrate system results from the effect of the substratum upon its morphology. Plants reach a height of 6 mm; cells of the erect filaments contain a single chromoplast with a variable number of pyrenoids. Tetrasporangial plants occur mainly in winter and sexual plants occur mainly in spring and early summer; the two generations are isomorphic. Stages of fertilisation have been observed and photographed. Acrochaetium polyrhizum (Harv.) J. Ag. is referred to the synonomy of A. botryocarpum, and A. codicolum Brg., A. grande (Levr.) De Toni fil. and A. rhizoideum (Drew) Sm. are regarded as probable synonyms. This study of A. botryocarpum indicates that host specificity, substrate relations, form of spermatangia and immediate post-fertilisation activity may not be as reliable as formerly thought for making taxonomic distinctions within the Acrochaetium-Rhodochorton complex.