SPECIALIZED APPENDAGES ON SPERMATIA FROM THE RED ALGA AGLAOTHAMNION NEGLECTUM (CERAMIALES,CERAMIACEAE) SPECIFICALLY BIND WITH TRICHOGYNES1

Spermatia from Aglaothamnion neglectum Feldmann-Mazoyer specifically bind with trichogynes and hairs of female thalli, One of the functions of hairs on female thalli appears to be the catching of spermatia. Fertilization can occur if a spermatium binds first with a hair and then binds with a trichogyne. The binding of spermatia with trichogynes is not species specific, but only occurs beween closely related species. Spermatia have fimbriate coneshaped appendages projecting from each end that are responsible for initial binding with trichogynes.