Ernodesmis Børgesen, 1912

Holotype species: Ernodesmis verticillata (Kützing) Børgesen

Original publication and holotype designation: Børgesen, F. (1912). Some Chlorophyceae from the Danish West Indies. II. Botanisk Tidsskrift 32: 241-273, 17 figs.

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Description: Thallus composed of elongate, pyriform cells, 1-1.5 mm long, arranged in whorls to several orders and forming bushy clumps, to 5 cm tall. Annular constrictions prominent on main basal vesicles, occasionally on basal regions of older branches. Apical orientation maintained throughout development. Branches initiated from verticillate clusters of lenticular cells at apex of subtending vesicles, 3-10 per node. Rhizoid well developed from which new uprights can arise. Adventitious rhizoids common on basal regions of older branches. Fragmentation common. Tenacular cells sparse, occurring only at junction of parent and daughter vesicles, distinguishable from adventitious rhizoids. Cell division by the lenticular cell type, and occasionally by segregative division in main axes; by centripetal invagination in rhizoid. Cell multinucleate, with numerous polygonal chloroplasts forming a reticulum; each chloroplast with single pyrenoid. Reproduction and life history poorly documented. Ernodesmis is a common tropical genus thought to be endemic to the tropical southwestern Atlantic and Caribbean despite some reports from the tropical Pacific. It is commonly found on coral rubble and in areas of swift water motion. Phylogenetic position of Ernodesmis within the Siphonocladales-Cladophorales complex unclear. Cell biology of wound healing and cytoskeleton extensively studied.

Information contributed by: J.L. Olsen. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2011-08-29 by M.D. Guiry.

Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.

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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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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=38407

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 29 August 2011. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 25 April 2024