The genus Trematocarpus (Sarcodiaceae, Rhodophyta) in southern Africa and the exclusion of Sphaerococcus (Chondrus) scutellatus

Abstract

Trematocarpus Kützing in southern Africa is found to comprise four taxa in three species: newly described is T.  fragilis (Ag.) De Toni var. divaricatus Simons, var. nov. Two of the species, T. flabellatus (J. Ag.) De Toni and T.  affinis (J. Ag.) De Toni are restored to independent specific rank after being regarded as synonyms of T.  scutellatus (Her.) Searles. It is shown that  Sphaerococcus (Chondrus) scutellatus Her., the basionym of  T.  scutellatus refers to a species of Gigartina, therefore a new combination Gigartina scutellata (Her.) Simons is made for this species which was formerly known as G. fastigiata J. Ag. and G. scabiosa (Kiitz.) Papenf. Trematocarpus elongatus Kiitz. is relegated to synonymy under T. fragilis var.  divaricatus.