Centritractus Lemmermann, 1900, nom. cons.
Holotype species: Centritractus belonophorus (Schmidle) Lemmermann
Original publication and holotype designation: Lemmermann, E. (1900). Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Planktonalgen. IX. Lagerheimia marssonii nov. spec., Centratractus belonophora (Schmidle) nov. gen. et spec., Synedra limnetica nov. spec., Marssoniella elegans nov. gen. et spec. Berichte der deutsche botanischen Gesellschaft 18: 272-275.
Request PDFDescription: Free-living, unicellular organisms rarely forming loose, irregular groups of cells. Cells 5-90 _m long and 5-15 _m wide, spherico-ellipsoidal, spindle-shaped or cylindrical, straight or slightly curved, often many times as long as wide and sometimes with a differentiated apex. Cell wall more or less thick, in some species with brown warts impregnated with iron. Cell wall comprised on two portions either meeting in the middle or near one of the apices; in elongate species junctions are at two points, thus forming a cap at each end of the cell. Each apex with thick, hollow spine, 18-46 _m long, straight or slightly curved. The length and shape of the spines can vary on the same cell. Cells uninucleate. One or many chloroplasts present, with number variable even within same species. Pyrenoids absent. Asexual reproduction by zoospores or autospores with 2-16 produced per mother cell. Zoospores ellipsoidal to ovoid with two unequal flagella and one to many chloroplasts. Autospores generally with thin cell wall, however, thick walled aplanospores also formed. Centritractus common planktonic alga in freshwater; cosmopolitan. Species distinguished based on the form of the cell wall, cell morphology and presence and importance of apical spines as well as cell dimensions.
Information contributed by: H. R. Preisig. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2021-10-05 by M.D. Guiry.
Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.
Gender: This genus name is currently treated as masculine.
Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Kawai, H. & Nakayama, T. (2015). Introduction (Heterokontobionta p.p.), Cryptophyta, Dinophyta, Haptophyta, Heterokontophyta (except Coscinodiscophyceae, Mediophyceae, Fragilariophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Phaeophyceae, Eustigmatophyceae), Chlorarachniophyta, Euglenophyta. In: Syllabus of plant families. Adolf Engler's Syllabus der Pflanzenfamilien. Ed. 13. Phototrophic eukaryotic Algae. Glaucocystophyta, Cryptophyta, Dinophyta/Dinozoa, Haptophyta, Heterokontophyta/Ochrophyta, Chlorarachnniophyta/Cercozoa, Chlorophyta, Streptophyta p.p. (Frey, W. Eds), pp. 11-64, 103-139. Stuttgart: Borntraeger Science Publishers.
Verification of Data
Users are responsible for verifying the accuracy of information before use, as noted on the website Content page.
Contributors
Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera,
organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA)
and intended to be published in CD format.
These AlgaeBase descriptions are now being continually updated, and each current contributor is identified above.
The PSA and AlgaeBase warmly acknowledge the generosity of all past and present contributors and particularly the work of Dr Parker.
Descriptions of chrysophyte genera were subsequently published in J. Kristiansen & H.R. Preisig (eds.). 2001. Encyclopedia of Chrysophyte Genera. Bibliotheca Phycologica 110: 1-260.
Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=43829
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 05 October 2021. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 20 April 2024
