Phycopeltis, a Genus of Alga Not Previously Recorded from the British IslesAuthor(s): M. J. P. ScannellSource: The Irish Naturalists' Journal, Vol. 15, No. 3 (Jul., 1965), p. 75Published by: Irish Naturalists' Journal Ltd.Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25536962 .

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75

PHYCOPELTIS, A GENUS OF ALGA NOT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED FROM THE BRITISH ISLES

By M. J. P. Scannell

The Trentepohliaceae (Ulotrichales, Ohlorophyceae) are a family of aerial alga represented in these islands by one genus only, Trentepohlia. The most conspicuous species is T. aurea which occurs principally in mountainous districts in large sheets on the windward side of rock outcrops and on sheltered walls. In this note I wish to draw attention to the occurrence of a hitherto unrecorded genus of the same family found recently in SW Ireland, the genus Phycopeltis.

When in the West Cork area with Mr J. Emmet. ODonovan In July 1963, at Castletownsend, I collected what I thought to be a mlcrofungus on the leaves of ivy growing by the sea. Dr R. W. G. Dennis, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, subsequently identified the growth as Phycopeltis epiphyton Mill. A second growth on the same leaf has been identified by Mr R. Ross, British Museum (Nat. Hist.) as Phycopeltis expansa Jenn. (first described from New Zealand

material in Proceedings of thei Royal Irish Academy, 3, 757, 1896). Phycopeltis epiphyton Mill, is a black epiphyllous discoid alga with

maximum diameter 0.1 mm. It is the only species of Phycopeltis recorded as occurring naturally in Europe; it has been found on leaves of Abies, Hedera, Rubus and Buxus in the Black Forest area of Germany.

Phycopeltis expansa Jenn, is an epiphyllous, ochre-coloured (some orange

coloration when fresh) circular plate of cells c 1.5 mm in diameter. Some discs become confluent forming continuous patches and this occurs especially along the mCdrib and lateral vein depressions?the "catchment area" of the leaf. Of the two species it is the more abundant in SW Ireland. It has previously only been recorded from New Zealand but this distribution may be apparent rather than real. Ross thinks that P. expansa may be synonymous with P. arundinaceae

which has been described by Montaigne from reeds in Algeria. The genus Phycopeltis is almost exclusively confined to damp tropical

countries. In SW Ireland it was found by chance in 1963. A systematic search was made in 1964 and the alga was found in vicinity of the three estuaries, Castletownsend, Glandore and Cork (H3 and H5). Phycopeltis epiphyton was found only at the Castletownsend station. The second species was found on leaves in sheltered hollows at the base of trees or walls at five stations, Castletownsend,

Myross, Keelbeg, East Ferry and Whitegate. Phycopeltis was not found on other plants although sought on laurel. If the alga occurs in Britain it would most probably be found near sheltered estuaries in Devon and Cornwall.

I am indebted to Dr R. W. G. Dennis, Kew, and to Mr R. Ross, British Museum, for determinations and information on Phycopeltis.

Specimens of Phycopeltis have been placed in the collections at the National Museum of Ireland (DBN), at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K), and at British Museum (Nat. Hist.) (BM).

National Museum of Ireland.

THE SECOND RECORD OF ISCHNOPSYLLUS (ISCHNOPSYLLUS) SIMPLEX SIMPLEX ROTHSCHILD 1906 {SIPHONAPTERA) IN

IRELAND

By Fergus O'Gorman and Fr. A. J. M. Claassens

One male Ischnopsyllus (Ischnopsyllus) simplex simplex Rothschild was collected from one of two female natterer's bats, Myotis nattereri (Kuhl), caught in a disused outhouse near Listowel, North Co. Kerry (Irish Nat. Grid. Ref. Q95 32) on 29th August, 1964. This was the second specimen of this flea to be found in Ireland.

O^ahony (1939) recorded the first specimen of this flea from a natterer's bat from Co. Fermanagh. This species and the whiskered bat, (M. mystacinus),

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