Estudio sobre el género lithophyllum (Corallinales, rhodophyta) en el golfo de México y el caribe Mexicano

A survey on the genus Lithophyllum was conducted in the Gulf coasts of Mexico and Mexican Caribbean. The material was collected in the insular and coastal region of Veracruz, Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo, during 1990-2012; in addition specimens of Lithophyllum deposited in the herbarium ENCB were reviewed. Characters useful were defined to identify the species as: habit, diameter and height of the bi/tetrasporangial chamber, number of sub-epithelial cells and canal anatomy of conceptacle. The characters determines the presence of five species of the genus Lithophyllum. Of the five species found only Lithophyllum congestum growths as rhodoliths, the lasting four are epilithic or epiphytic. L. corallinae and L. incrustans are recorded for the first time in the study area.