Melobesia compressa M'Calla ex Harvey 1849
Publication Details
Melobesia compressa M'Calla ex Harvey 1849: 108
Published in: Harvey, W.H. (1849). A manual of the British marine algae: containing generic and specific descriptions of all the known British species of sea-weeds. With plates to illustrate all the genera. pp. [i]-lii, [1]-252, 27 pls. London: John Van Voorst, Paternoster Row.
Request PDFPublication date: Jul-Dec 1849
Type Species
The type species (holotype) of the genus Melobesia is Melobesia membranacea (Esper) J.V.Lamouroux.
Status of Name
This name is currently regarded as a synonym of Phymatolithon calcareum (Pallas) W.H.Adey & D.L.McKibbin ex Woelkering & L.M.Irvine.
Source of Synonymy
Athanasiadis, A. (2016). Phycologia Europaea Rhodophyta Vol. I. pp. [i]-xxxxviii, 1-762. Thessaloniki: Published and distributed by the author.
Type Information
Type locality: probably Roundstone Bay, Ireland.; Notes: Type seeminly not designated, but type material of McCalla may be in TCD or DBN (Stafleu & Cowan 1981: 212; Woelkering et al. 2005: 395). Harvey's coralline algae may have not survived.
Origin of Species Name
Adjective (Latin), flattened, usually laterally (Stearn 1983).
General Environment
This is a marine species.
Created: 22 April 2000 by M.D. Guiry.
Last updated: 02 October 2017
Verification of Data
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Nomenclatural note
William McCalla’s name is spelled both as M’Calla and McAlla (and the family name may also be rendered M’Alla). McAlla was the son of a Scot who settled in Roundstone, Co. Galway, Ireland. He was, for a time, the schoolmaster at Roundstone. He died of cholera in 1849 (Guiry, pers. comm.). - (11 May 2006) - G.M. Guiry
Taxonomic note
Generally referred to Phymatolithon calcareum but in the absence of a designated type, its identity cannot be certain. - (19 August 2015) - M.D. Guiry
Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=21989
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 02 October 2017. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 02 April 2025
