Geographical distribution, habitat and reproductive phenology of the genusKallymenia (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) from Catalonia, Spain

The authors report the geographical distribution, habitat and reproductive phenology of the four species of the genus Kallymenia from Catalonia, Spain : K feldmannii Codomier, K lacerata J. Feldmann, K patens (J. Agardh) Parki nson and K requienii J. Agardh. The records confirm that these species are quite common in the western Mediterranean Sea, but are very rare in the eas tern Mediterranean region, where only K. lacerata and K requienii have been found once. In addition, the examination of different herbaria shows that K requienii is present on the Atlantic coast of the north of Spain. The fou r species are sciophilous and live preferably in the coralligen or in the m aerl, usually at depths of more than 30 in in the northern Mediterranean Se a or below 40 in in the central and southern Mediterranean Sea. All species are highly proterandrous. Kallymenia feldmannii and K lacerata are annual and ensure survival in winter by developing incrusting discs from carpospor es and tetraspores. Kallymenia patens and K requienii are perennial, and en sure survival by maintaining only the basal part of the blade from one year to the other and developing new blades from it in spring. The perennial sp ecies, on aging, accumulate floridean starch in the intermediate cortical l ayers, which takes the form of whitish spots on the blade surface; the olde r thalli are totally whitish.