Morphology-anatomy of Mesophyllum macroblastum (Hapalidiaceae, Corallinales, Rhodophyta)in the Northern Adriatic Sea and a key to Mediterranean species of the genus

The coralline red alga Mesophyllum (Hapalidiaceae) is recorded for the first time from the Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea) and gametangial plants of M. macroblastum are recorded for the first time from the Mediterranean Sea. A morphological-anatomical account is provided, including comparisons with specimens from the western coast of Italy and with published data. Distribution and habitat information, comparison with Mediterranean species of Mesophyllum, and a dichotomous key to Mediterranean species are included along with brief comments on other species in the genus known to produce volcano-like tetrasporangial conceptacles.