Study of the phylogeny and distribution of Pterocladiella (Pterocladiaceae, Rhodophyta) from China

In the current study, 334 specimens of Pterocladiella from China representing historical herbarium specimens and recent field collections were re-examined based upon morphological and molecular data analyses. Both datasets revealed the presence of P. beachiae, P. capillacea, P. caerulescens, and P. musciformis. Of these species, P. beachiae and P. musciformis were new records for China. Pterocladiella beachiae was characterised by a complanate thallus, with first-order short branches opposite or alternate in the upper part of the plant and marginal proliferations in the upper axis and branches; Pterocladiella musciformis had distinctive acute branch apices, cylindrical or slightly compressed lower axes, compressed upper axes, and simple irregular branches occurring either laterally or clustered. P. caerulescens had a corymbose outline and was monoecious. In the field, P. capillacea was the most common species of Pterocladiella, being widely distributed along Chinese coasts, whereas other Pterocladiella species were geographically limited in southern China. In P. capillacea, the tetrasporophyte was the dominant reproductive type while gametophytes were less common and more likely occurred in the East China Sea and South China Sea at lower latitudes.