Elaterodiscus P.[J.L.] Dangeard, 1967: 1775
Classification:
Empire Eukaryota
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Chlorophyta
Class Chlorophyceae
Order Chaetophorales
Family Chaetophoraceae
Holotype species: Elaterodiscus appendiculatus P.J.L.Dangeard
Original publication and holotype designation:Dangeard, P.[J.L.] (1967). Sur un genre nouveau de Chlorophycée marine à cycle évolutif hétéromorphe: Elaterodiscus appendiculatus nov. g., nov. sp. Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances de l'Académie des Sciences, Série D 264: 1773-1774.
Taxonomic status: currently recognized as a distinct genus.
Description: Heteromorphic life history comprising pseudoparenchymatous multicellular and unicellular thalli presumably representing gametophytic and sporophytic stages respectively. Multicellular plants forming nearly circular prostrate thalli of irregularly branched filaments when attached to hard substratum. Ordinary vegetative cells cylindrical or rounded, containing single parietal chloroplast with one pyrenoid. Cells at random sites enlarge and attain irregularly or balloon-like swollen shape; these cells with slightly reticulate chloroplast with several pyrenoids, able to penetrate into calcareous material. Similarly, unicellular plants have oblong-rounded shape when growing freely in culture; inside calcareous substratum they have a similar size and shape with several rhizoidal branches to surface of substratum. Asexual reproduction by bi- and quadriflagellate elongated, pyriform zoospores. Small cells of multicellular plants develop into sporangia of same shape and size as in vegetative condition, at maturity containing biflagellate pyriform swarmers. Unicellular plants and swollen cells of multicellular plants develop into zoosporangia with long exit tubes. Progeny of multicellular plants may be similar plants or unicellular stages while progeny of unicellular plants are multicellular thalli. Sexual reproduction unknown. Elaterodiscus known only from culture, isolated from algal material obtained at Biarritz, France, and later associated with calcareous shells, Portobello, New Zealand.
Numbers of names and species: There is only one species or infraspecific name in the database at present, which has been flagged as currently accepted taxonomically.
Names: ('C' indicates a name that is currently accepted taxonomically; 'S' a homotypic or heterotypic synonym; 'U' indicates a name of uncertain taxonomic status, but which has been subjected to some verification nomenclaturally; 'P' indicates a preliminary AlgaeBase entry that has not been subjected to any kind of verification. For more information on a species click on it to activate a link to the Species database):
Elaterodiscus appendiculatus P.J.L.Dangeard C - type
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: http://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=38308
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2013. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 24 May 2013.
Algaebase taxon LSID: urn:lsid:algaebase.org:taxname:7949
