Description

The largest of the 80 families of red algae is the
Rhodomelaceae. A great many genera and species are
restricted to Australasia, which is the major centre
of diversity and distribution. Perhaps as a
consequence, the Rhodomelaceae has remained
relatively unstudied compared with most other red
algal families even at the morphological/ anatomical
level. This work studies selected tribes and genera,
all of which have a strong Australasian component.
Anatomical and molecular analyses have been
undertaken on members of the tribes Amansieae,
Pleurostichidieae, Streblocladieae and Sonderelleae.
The results of these analyses have led to the
description of two new genera, three new species, and
one new tribe as well as the resurrection of two
genera and the recombination of ten species. The
taxonomic position and validity of the studied tribes
and genera has also been established. This study will
be of particular interest to taxonomic phycologists
or anyone else interested in the marine botany of the
Australasian region.