Besa Setchell, 1912
Holotype species: Besa papillaeformis Setchell
Original publication and holotype designation: Setchell, W.A. (1912). Algae novae et minus cognitae, I. University of California Publications in Botany 4(14): 229-268, pls 25-31.
Request PDFDescription: Vegetative plants consist of crusts reaching 2-3 cm in breadth. Thalli are composed of ill-defined basal layers lacking rhizoids, loosely aggregated medullary filaments, and an anticlinal cortical filaments. Gametangia are produced in short (to 1.5 mm in heigt), erect, club-shaped or papillar outgrowths. Spermatangial axes are covered with surface mother cells. Cystocarps are terminal. Tetrasporophytes are isomorphic with gametophytes. DeCew and West (1981) recommend transfer of Besa from the Phyllophoraceae, where it was placed by Kim (1976), to the Gigartinaceae because of its filamentous medullary structure. Kim had emphasized the lack of a sterile hull around the carposporophyte, the presence of a relatively large sterile lateral cell on the basal cell of the carpogonial branch, and the development of rounded to elliptical medullary cells as evidence for the alignment of Besa with the Phyllophoraceae. Gen. emend. (Calderon et al., 2016: 432, 433).
Information contributed by: G.T. Kraft. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2016-12-14 by Wendy Guiry.
Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.
Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Schneider, C.W. & Wynne, M.J. (2007). A synoptic review of the classification of red algal genera a half a century after Kylin's "Die Gattungen der Rhodophyceen". Botanica Marina 50: 197-249.
Comments: Distribution: The type and a second species, B. stipitata Hollenberg and Abbott, occur on rocks from intertidal to 14 m depths at scattered localities in central California. Both species are rare (Abbott and Hollenberg 1976).
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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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera,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=42460
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
Wendy Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 14 December 2016. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 25 April 2024
