The genus <i>Sargassum </i>(Phaeophyta, Sargassaceae) from Balibago, Calatagan, Philippines

Abstract

Eight species of Sargassum: S. baccularia (Mertens) C. Agardh, S. cinctum J. Agardh, S. crassifolium J. A-gardh, S. ilicifolium (Turner) C. Agardh, S. notarisii Zanardini, S. oligocystum Montagne, S. paniculatum J. Agardh, and S. siliquosum J. Agardh are reported from Balibago, Calatagan, Philippines. Growth and changes in the morphology of the two most common species, S. paniculatum and S. siliquosum, were noted throughout their different growth phases over 1 1/2 years. Collections of material representing growth stages of the other species were made at periodic intervals. The more consistent morphological characters for each species were recognized and their utility in taxonomic work was discussed. These characters include outline and length/width ratio of the leaves characteristic of each branching order of laterals, shape and size of the vesicles, muricatous nature of the terminal branchlets, branching pattern of the receptacles, morphology of the female receptacles and the type of holdfast.