L aurencia laurahuertana sp. nov. ( R hodomelaceae, R hodophyta): An epiphytic species from the M exican C aribbean

Summary L aurencia laurahuertana   M ateo‐ C id, M endoza‐ G onzález, S entíes & D íaz‐ L arrea sp. nov. is described from Q uintana R oo, M exican C aribbean, on the basis of comparative morphology and ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase gene sequence analysis. It is distinguished from other L aurencia species by the small size of the sporophytes and dioecious gametophytes, the branching thalli, and its epiphytic habits. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the M exican C aribbean sample, from P unta H errero ( Q uintana R oo), formed a distinctive and well supported clade segregated from other species of L aurencia from B razil and M exico. The M exican entity is morphologically and genetically distinct from other L aurencia species, warranting description as a new species.