A Preliminary Check-List of British Marine Algae

Abstract

This preliminary list of some of the classes of the algae has been prepared, mainly for the use of British phycologists, to form a basis on which to work for the eventual compilation of a complete check and locality list of all species of British marine algae. The compiler would be grateful for all additions and corrections to this list, and for records of marine species from the algal classes not included in the present list.The classes of algae treated in this list are the Chlorophyceae (53 gen., 156 spp.), Xanthophyceae (7 gen., 15 spp.), Chrysophyceae (15 gen., 22 spp.), Phaeophyceae (96 gen., 199 spp.), Rhodophyceae (126 gen., 324 spp.), and Cyanophyceae (39 gen., 125 spp.). The genera are listed alphabetically under the family and the species alphabetically under the genus. If a name has been changed from that given in Newton (1931), the name in Newton is added, in brackets, below. Names preceded by a question mark appear to need revision for nomenclatural or taxonomic reasons. Most of the so-called varieties listed are very probably merely habitat forms of the species, but further investigation is needed before new combinations are made for them. Notes are given at the end of each class, the number in brackets following a name in the list refers to these notes.The compiler is grateful to Mr R. Ross and Miss Linda Newton, of the British Museum, and to Miss C. I. Dickinson, of the Herbarium, Kew, for their help over a number of problems.