A new minute species of Ptilocladia is reported from the Sea of Japan.
Thalli are up to 1 cm in height, robust, not calcified, brownish red,
more or less alternately-distichously branched, have determinate bran
ches and a pyramidal outline. Axes have no annulations and may or may
not have rhizoidal cortication in the lower parts. Hexagonal crystals
are absent from the axial cells. Gland cells are formed terminally or
subterminally on whorl-branchlets and distributed throughout the thall
us. Adventitious rhizoids are present but adventitious branches are ab
sent. The third cells of carpogonial branches divide longitudinally to
produce the carpogonium. Carposporophytes are borne on the indetermin
ate branches as well as on the determinate branches. Usually five sper
matangial mother cells are formed on terminal cells of whorl-branchlet
s, each produces 2-4 spermatangia, and spermatangial sori extend throu
ghout the thallus surface. Tetrasporangia are borne singly only on the
basal cell of whorl-branchlets and distributed throughout the thallus
.