Progress in the taxonomy of the genus Laurencia (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) up to the resurrection of the genus Osmundea

Abstract

Progress in the taxonomy of the genus Laurencia Lamouroux (Ceramiales, Rhodomelaceae) is presented. The initial use of only morphological characters was stepwise substituted by the use of both anatomical and reproductive characters that permitted to better characterize species. Infrageneric sudivisions proposed throughout the years are discussed as well as criteria that permitted to ascribe to the resurrected genus Osmundea Stackhouse some species previously referred to as Laurencia.

Key Words:

• Algal taxonomy
• Laurencia
• Osmundea