A checklist of the seaweeds of the Mediterranean and Atlantic Coasts of Morocco. III. Rhodophyceae (excluding Ceramiales)

A checklist of Moroccan marine Rhodophyceae excluding the members of the Ceramiales, the largest order, based on both literature records and some original data, is presented. The distribution of each taxon for this region (12 Mediterranean and 26 Atlantic localities) is given. Using present-day taxonomy, 218 species, infraspecific taxa and life-history phases are accepted for the Moroccan coasts. Six new combinations are proposed: Phymatolithon calcareum (Pallas) W H. Adey et McKibbin f. compressum (M'Calla ex Harvey) Benhissoune, Boudouresque, Perret-Boudouresque et Verlaque comb. nov., Phymatolithon calcareum (Pallas) W H. Adey et McKibbin f. squarrulosum (Foslie) Benhissoune, Boudouresque, Perret-Boudouresque et Verlaque comb. nov., Plocamium cartilagineum (Linnaeus) P. S. Dixon var. uncinatum (C. Agardh) Guiry ex Benhissoune, Boudouresque, Perret-Boudouresque et Verlaque comb. nov., Rhodophyllis divaricata (Stackhouse) Papenfuss var. werneri (P Dangeard) Benhissoune, Boudouresque, Perret-Boudouresque et Verlaque comb. nov., Rhodymenia pseudopalmata (J. V. Lamouroux) R C. Silva var. fuscopurpurea (P Dangeard) Benhissoune, Boudouresque, Perret-Boudouresque et Verlaque comb. nov. and Titanoderma trochanter (Bory) Benhissoune, Boudouresque, Perret-Boudouresque et Verlaque comb. nov.