Cystophora retroflexa is a brown alga species in the genus Cystophora.[1] It found is found off the coasts of New Zealand and Australia.[2] It is the type species of the genus. Prefers more sheltered environments compared to other Cystophora species, often found in sheltered reefs from 0 to 12 m in depth.[3]

Description

It is a large, open species with floats longer (4–10 mm) than broad (3–6 mm). The final branches are long (20–60 mm) and thin (1–2 mm). The side branches have smaller branches arising at irregular intervals from all sides, rather than the seaweed having branches in the one plane.[3]

Biochemistry

This species contains phlorotannins of the classes of phlorethols and fucophlorethols (phloroglucinol, difucol, tetraphlorethol-E, pentaphlorethol-B, hexaphlorethol-A, fucotriphlorethol-G, fucotriphlorethol-H, fucotetraphlorethol-J, fucotetraphlorethol-K, fucopentaphlorethol-E, bisfucoheptaphlorethol-A, difucofucotriphlorethol-A, difucofucotetraphlorethol-B, terfucohexaphlorethol-B, terfucoheptaphlorethol-A, diphlorethol, triphlorethol-A, tetraphlorethol-C, fucophlorethol-B, fucodiphlorethol-D, fucotriphlorethol-B, fucotetra-phlorethol-B, bisfucotriphlorethol-A, bisfucotetraphlorethol-A, bisfucopentaphlorethol-A, bisfucopentaphlorethol-B, difucophlorethol-A, difucofucotetraphlorethol-A, terfucopentaphlorethol-A and terfucohexaphlorethol-A).[4] There are also halogenated phlorethols and fucophlorethols (chlorinated, brominated and iodinated derivatives).[5]

References

  1. ^ "Cystophora retroflexa (Labill.) J.Agardh". www.nzor.org.nz. Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  2. ^ Nelson, W. A. (2017). New Zealand seaweeds : an illustrated guide. Wellington, New Zealand: Te Papa Press. p. 78. ISBN 9780987668813. OCLC 841897290.
  3. ^ a b Edgar, Graham (2012). Australian marine life : the plants and animals of temperate waters (2nd ed.). Chatswood, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland. p. 50. ISBN 9781921517174.
  4. ^ Sailler, Birgit; Glombitza, Karl-Werner (1999). "Phlorethols and fucophlorethols from the brown alga Cystophora retroflexa". Phytochemistry. 50 (5): 869. doi:10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00643-8.
  5. ^ Sailler, B; Glombitza, KW (1999). "Halogenated phlorethols and fucophlorethols from the brown alga Cystophora retroflexa". Natural Toxins. 7 (2): 57–62. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1522-7189(199903/04)7:2<57::AID-NT42>3.0.CO;2-F. PMID 10495467.