Caloglossa

Caloglossa has thalli that resemble branching leaves.{{cite web |title=Caloglossa (Delesseriaceae) |url=https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/tools-and-resources/identification/freshwater-algae/identifications-guide/filamentous/filaments-microscopic/filaments-are-branched/branch-points-roughly-equal/branches-divide-in-tree-like-manner/filaments-more-than-one-cell-wide/caloglossa-delesseriaceae/ |website=Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research |access-date=29 August 2024}} This "exogenous primary branching" differentiates the genus from other members of the Delesseriaceae, other than the closely related genus Taenioma.

Species of Caloglossa are red to brown in color. Each thalli has a conspicuous midrib which is formed by a row of elongated cells. In fresh water, populations spread vegetatively. In brackish water, the plants may reproduce sexually.{{cite book |last1=Sheath |first1=Robert G. |title=Freshwater Algae of North America |date=1 January 2003 |publisher=Academic Press |isbn=978-0-12-741550-5 |pages=197–224 |chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780127415505500064 |access-date=29 August 2024 |chapter=5 - Red Algae}}

Caloglossa is a common genus worldwide, and is distributed in littoral zones from tropical to temperate waters. They can grow in habitats of varying salinity, and may be found growing on stones on marine coasts, in brackish estuaries, epiphytically in saltmarsh and mangrove habitat, and in total freshwater areas.

The genus sees use in aquascaping and may be found in the aquarium trade. One species in particular, Caloglossa cf. beccarii, is popular as it exhibits a variety of colors and is easy to cultivate.{{cite web |title=Caloglossa cf. beccarii |url=https://www.flowgrow.de/db/aquaticplants/caloglossa-cf-beccarii |website=Flowgrow |access-date=29 August 2024 |language=en}}

Caloglossa beccarii has also been investigated as a potential food item in Thailand. It was found to have insignificant toxicity while providing a potentially rich nutritional benefit.{{cite journal |last1=Chankaew |first1=W. |last2=Amornlerdpison |first2=D. |last3=Lailerd |first3=N. |title=Characteristics of red macroalgae, Caloglossa beccarii DeToni from freshwater for food as safe and other applications in Thailand |journal=International Journal of Agricultural Technology |date=2021 |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=1–12 |url=https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/pdf/10.5555/20210228442 |access-date=29 August 2024}}

Some authors have considered the taxon authority to be Jacob Georg Agardh instead of Georg Matthias von Martens. King & Puttock (1994) argued that Martens did not formally elevate Caloglossa to genus rank in his 1869 publication, preferring to follow Agardh's 1876 treatment instead.{{cite journal |last1=King |first1=R. J. |last2=Puttock |first2=C. F. |title=Morphology and taxonomy of Caloglossa (Delesseriaceae, Rhodophyta) |journal=Australian Systematic Botany |date=1994 |volume=7 |issue=2 |pages=89–124 |doi=10.1071/SB9940089 |url=https://www.publish.csiro.au/SB/SB9940089 |access-date=29 August 2024|url-access=subscription }} The diversity of species within Caloglossa has been heavily studied and subject to much revision.{{cite journal |last1=Krayesky |first1=David M. |last2=Norris |first2=James N. |last3=West |first3=John A. |last4=Kamiya |first4=Mitsunobu |last5=Viguerie |first5=Matt |last6=Wysor |first6=Brian S. |last7=Fredericq |first7=Suzanne |title=Two new species of Caloglossa (Delesseriaceae, Rhodophyta) from the Americas, C. confusa and C. fluviatilis spp. nov. |journal=Phycologia |date=1 September 2012 |volume=51 |issue=5 |pages=513–530 |doi=10.2216/11-57.1 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2216/11-57.1 |access-date=29 August 2024 |language=en |issn=0031-8884|url-access=subscription }} A mix of morphological and DNA analysis has informed researchers on the phylogeny of the genus.{{cite journal |last1=Kamiya |first1=Mitsunobu |last2=West |first2=John A. |last3=Karsten |first3=Ulf |last4=Ganesan |first4=E. K. |title=Molecular and morphological delineation of Caloglossa beccarii and related species (Delesseriaceae, Rhodophyta) |journal=Phycologia |date=November 2016 |volume=55 |issue=6 |pages=640–649 |doi=10.2216/16-19.1 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2216/16-19.1 |access-date=29 August 2024 |language=en |issn=0031-8884|url-access=subscription }}

As of 2024, are 22 species recognized by AlgaeBase.

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• Caloglossa adhaerens {{small|R.J.King & Puttock}}
• Caloglossa apicula {{small|(Durant) Krayesky, Fredericq & J.N.Norris}}
• Caloglossa apomeiotica {{small|J.A.West & Zuccarello}}
• Caloglossa beccarii {{small|(Zanardini) De Toni}}
• Caloglossa bengalensis {{small|(G.Martens) R.J.King & Puttock}}
• Caloglossa confusa {{small|Krayesky, J.A.West & M.Kamiya}}
• Caloglossa continua {{small|(Okamura) R.J.King & Puttock}}
• Caloglossa fluviatilis {{small|Krayesky, Fredericq & J.N.Norris}}
• Caloglossa fonticola {{small|K.-P.Fang, F.-R.Nan & S.-L.Xie}}
• Caloglossa intermedia {{small|M.Kamiya & J.A.West}}
• Caloglossa kamiyana {{small|Freshwater, Cath.E.Miller & Frankovich}}
• Caloglossa leprieurii {{small|(Montagne) G.Martens}}
• Caloglossa manaticola {{small|Freshwater, Cath.E.Miller & Frankovich}}
• Caloglossa monosticha {{small|M.Kamiya}}
• Caloglossa ogasawaraensis {{small|Okamura}}
• Caloglossa postiae {{small|M.Kamiya & R.J.King}}
• Caloglossa rotundata {{small|M.Kamiya}}
• Caloglossa ruetzleri {{small|Krayesky, Fredericq & J.N.Norris}}
• Caloglossa saigonensis {{small|Tanaka & P.H.Hô}}
• Caloglossa stipitata {{small|E.Post}}
• Caloglossa triclada {{small|(Post) R.J.King & Puttock}}
• Caloglossa vieillardii {{small|(Kützing) Setchell}}

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Category:Delesseriaceae

Category:Edible algae

Category:Red algae genera

Category:Aquarium plants

Category:Taxa described in 1869