Morphological studies of five species of Peyssonnelia (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) from southeastern Brazil

During a survey of red marine algae from Espirito Santo State, Brazil, five species of Peyssonnelia were collected in the intertidal zone or as drift material: Peyssonnelia armorica (P.Crouan st H.Crouan) Weber-van Bosse in B orgesen, P. borgesenii Weber-van Bosse in Borgesen (the first South Atlanti c record), P. boudouresquei Yoneshigue, P. capensis Montagne, and P. inamoe na Pilger. Detailed studies of thallus structure and reproductive developme nt are presented. Reproductive structures, early postfertilization stages, and carposporophyte development have been investigated previously for only a few Peyssonnelia species; the present study aims to improve our knowledge of the genus.