As a result of a review of classification in the genus Stigonema IAgardh. there are 74 species

48 varieties

and 23 forms were recorded since Agardh.

C. A. (1824) established the genus

However

only 25 species and some vareities and forms are well-established at the present. It is mainly because of the facts that most of the species are polymorphisum and that the juvenile thallus of certain species look like others at maturity. Furthermore

a section of a thallus in some species bears resemblance to some other species in appearance.The collections on which this study is based were made from the mountains which have rather well developed forests and scrubs. They attain heights between 300-1200 metres above sea level. The characteristic climatic conditions are weak light

moderatc temperature and high humidity. Besides the surface of soil and bark

and another substratum the samples are usually found on damp rocks. Quite a good deal of them are joined in moss communities.In this paper 20 species and 6 varieties have been recognized

among them 6 species and 5 varieties are first recorded in China and 15 species 6 vareities in Guangdong Province; 4 species and 1 vareities are described as new to science. The new units are: Stigonema nanxiongensis sp. nov.

57. hainanensis sp. nov.

St. lechangensis sp. nov.

St. gelatinosum. sp. nov.

St. informe var. longihormogonatum var. nov.