大(da)石花(hua)菜是(shi)亞熱(re)帶(dai)性海(hai)(hai)藻,是(shi)北太平洋西部的特有種,國內(nei)主產于(yu)嵊山(shan)(shan)、普陀(tuo)山(shan)(shan)、漁山(shan)(shan)、南(nan)麂(ji)、大(da)漁,喜歡(huan)生長在(zai)水質清凈、潮流通(tong)暢、鹽(yan)度較高的海(hai)(hai)域(yu),生長在(zai)外(wai)海(hai)(hai)島嶼干潮線以下(xia)巖(yan)礁上,為多年生海(hai)(hai)藻。
大石花(hua)菜藻體暗(an)紫紅色,軟骨質,高(gao)12~18厘(li)米,分枝3~4次,較(jiao)長(chang),對(dui)生(sheng)(sheng)或(huo)互生(sheng)(sheng),呈復(fu)羽狀小枝,囊果著生(sheng)(sheng)在(zai)分(fen)枝頂(ding)(ding)(ding)端,它(ta)的每一(yi)個分(fen)枝的頂(ding)(ding)(ding)端,都有一(yi)個頂(ding)(ding)(ding)端細(xi)(xi)(xi)胞(bao)(bao)。稾體分(fen)枝的生(sheng)(sheng)長(chang)就是通過(guo)頂(ding)(ding)(ding)端細(xi)(xi)(xi)胞(bao)(bao)的分(fen)裂并分(fen)化(hua)而進行的。頂(ding)(ding)(ding)端細(xi)(xi)(xi)胞(bao)(bao)首先分(fen)生(sheng)(sheng)成中(zhong)軸(zhou)絲細(xi)(xi)(xi)胞(bao)(bao),同(tong)時(shi)在(zai)頂(ding)(ding)(ding)端細(xi)(xi)(xi)胞(bao)(bao)后的一(yi)二個細(xi)(xi)(xi)胞(bao)(bao),它(ta)們經過(guo)分(fen)裂而產生(sheng)(sheng)4個圍(wei)(wei)(wei)軸細(xi)胞(bao)。這些圍(wei)(wei)(wei)軸細(xi)胞(bao)呈四方(fang)形排列在母細(xi)胞(bao)周(zhou)圍(wei)(wei)(wei),并經過(guo)不斷分(fen)裂和分(fen)化形成皮層及髓部(bu)組織,藻體基部(bu)的皮層再分(fen)裂形成假根(gen)(gen),假根(gen)(gen)絲(si)平(ping)行于(yu)中(zhong)軸絲(si)。
大石(shi)花菜的(de)繁(fan)殖分(fen)(fen)為(wei)(wei)有性生殖和無(wu)性繁(fan)殖兩(liang)種(zhong),有性生殖是通過雌雄配子(zi)體成熟(shu)(shu)后(hou),果胞受精(jing)形(xing)成果孢子(zi)體,果孢子(zi)體成熟(shu)(shu)后(hou)產生果孢子(zi)而進(jin)行(xing)的(de);無(wu)性繁(fan)殖則是通過四分(fen)(fen)孢子(zi)體產生四分(fen)(fen)孢子(zi)而進(jin)行(xing)的(de)。這兩(liang)種(zhong)繁(fan)殖形(xing)式最終都(dou)是以(yi)孢子(zi)進(jin)行(xing)的(de),故稱為(wei)(wei)孢子(zi)繁(fan)殖,此外(wai),石(shi)花菜還可以(yi)進(jin)行(xing)特殊的(de)營養繁(fan)殖,分(fen)(fen)為(wei)(wei)匍匐枝繁(fan)殖、假根繁(fan)殖和藻(zao)體再(zai)生3種形式。