Chambersius thyrsus G.W.Saunders & Kraft, 2025

Chambersius thyrsus G.W.Saunders & Kraft , sp. nov.

Type: VICTORIA: Point Lonsdale (38 ° 16′35″S, 144 ° 37′14″E), thalli on sandstone cobbles at 4.27 m on the reef seaward of the end of Lawrence Road, 02 Feb. 2010, G.W. Saunders, L.G.K. Kraft & K. R. Dixon s.n. (holo: UNB-GWS016630 (fig. 11A), non-reproductive. Type DNA barcode: HM918282 (COI-5P), PP866286 (rbcL). GoogleMaps

Thalli filiform ( Fig. 11 a, b View Fig ), 3–8 mm in length, the erect axes growing from a single, obliquely dividing apical cell ( Fig. 11 c View Fig ) and arising from a creeping base anchored by tight clusters of parallel filaments forming short haptera ( Fig. 11 d View Fig ). Erect axes 120–170 µm in diameter, the prominent central-axial cells surrounded by a 2–3 layered cortex of sub-isodiametric cells and a single-celled surface-cortical layer ( Fig. 11 e View Fig ). Central-axial cells elongate, with trumpeted ends and producing a single periaxial cell (rarely two), and subsequent filament giving rise to the cortical layers ( Fig. 11 f, g View Fig ). Cortical hairs extending from ovoid to triangular bases in the surface cortex and passing through the cuticle through a papillate surface pore ( Fig. 11 h View Fig ). Reproductive structures are not known.

Etymology

A ‘thyrsus’ is a staff associated with Dionysus, who carried this as he went about his daily godly duties in ancient Greece. This play on words pays tribute to the figurative ‘staff of authority’ that Prof. Chambers bore as Professorial Chairman of the School of Botany and as Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, earning throughout his academic and administrative services the deep respect and appreciation of his institutional colleagues.