Gloiocolax Sparling, 1957
Holotype species: Gloiocolax novae-zelandiae Sparling
Original publication and holotype designation: Sparling, S.R. (1957). The structure and reproduction of some members of the Rhodymeniaceae. University of California Publications in Botany 29(3): [i-iv], 319-396, 15 figs, 1 table, pls 48-59.
Request PDFDescription: Thallus inconspicuous, verrucose or stellate, base consisting of seemingly parasitic filaments penetrating the host. Erect fronds with short tuberculate or stellate lobes, rose-red to brown. Construction multiaxial, cortex of 5-7 layers of anticlinally orientated cells. Medulla pseudoparencymatous consisting of large radially elongated cells. Spermatangial plants unknown. Procarpic, carpogonial branches 3-celled borne on a large multinucleate supporting cell with a 2-celled auxiliary cell branch, the first cell of which bears a sterile branch, gonimoblast developing outwards, almost all cells forming carposporangia. Cystocarps hemispherical, large and protruding, ostiolate, scattered, tela arachnoidea present. Tetrasporangia scattered, formed terminally in the cortex. Spores regularly cruciately arranged.
Information contributed by: M.D. Guiry. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2016-10-16 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: 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: It is generally assumed that Gloiocolax novae-zelandiae is parasitic. However, the rose-red to brown coloration of the plants suggests that they are capable of at least some photosynthesis. The structure and reproduction of Gloiocolax is very similar to that of its host, Gloiocladia saccata (J. G. Agardh) R.E. Norris; the sizes of the reproductive structures are, however, very much smaller. Two other parasitic genera are found in the Rhodymeniales: Rhodymeniocolax and Faucheocolax (q.v.). These are similar to Faucheocolax in that their structure and reproduction closely resemble that of their hosts. Faucheocolax and Gloiocolax are closely similar in structure and reproduction and further studies are needed to decide if they are really representative of one genus (Irvine and Guiry 1986). Although Gloiocolax novae-zelandiae was described from a single drift collection in Wellington Harbour, New Zealand, Wendy Nelson notes (in litt.) "... it is quite common and easily found, although not necessarily well represented in collections."
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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=42811
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 16 October 2016. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 25 April 2024
