Characiochloris Pascher, 1927

Lectotype species: Characiochloris characioides Pascher

Original publication: Pascher, A. (1927). Die Süsswasser-Flora Deutschlands, Österreichs und der Schweiz. Volvocales = Phytomonadinae. Vol. 4 pp. 505. Jena: Fischer.

Description: Solitary, oval, ellipsoid, spindle to fusiform shaped cells attached to substratum with mucilaginous pad; short, narrow stipe present or absent. Basal pad often becoming dark with impregnation of iron, at least one species with vestigial flagella projecting into base. Cells 12-70 (-120) x 6-35 &m, broadly rounded to apiculate at upper end; C. sasae with papilla-like distal end. Cell walls smooth, more or less prominent, sometimes with thin mucilaginous envelope and occasionally with thickened upper end. Cells uninucleate with contractile vacuoles; chloroplast parietal and band shaped to lobed and net like, with 1-6 pyrenoids, usually with prominent starch sheaths, and sometimes with one stigma. Asexual reproduction by biflagellate zoospores; 4-128 per sporangium. Zoospores 8-20 x 3.5-10 &m, with band shaped chloroplast, single pyrenoid, stigma and contractile vacuoles. Zoospores attach by anterior end. Aplanospores observed in C. obtusa, C. apiculata,and C. sasae. In C. sasae aplanospores smooth-walled and spherical, 12-25 &m diameter and reddish-brown at maturity; ususally single per vegetative cell but 2-8 sometimes develop. During germination aplanospores produce 4(8-16) biflagellate germ cells in a vesicle, partially extruded from spore. Swarmers ca 12 µm long and reddish-brown, without apparent stigmata, pyrenoids or contractile vacuoles. Swarmers attach and develop as in typical vegetative cells. Sexual reproduction unknown. Characiochloris epiphytic on various freshwater algae and from soil; reported from Europe, Africa and Asia although most species with highly localized known distributions. Species previously assigned to Characiochloris currently placed in Chlorangopsis and Chlamydomonadopsis. With Chlamydopodium comprise only genera in Characiochloridaceae. Species distinguished based on differences in cell size and shape, pyrenoid number, and details of chloroplast morphology

Information contributed by: D. Garbary. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2017-11-09 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 feminine.

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Tsarenko, P.M. (2011). Chlorococcales. In: Algae of Ukraine: diversity, nomenclature, taxonomy, ecology and geography. Volume 3: Chlorophyta. (Tsarenko, P.M., Wasser, S.P. & Nevo, E. Eds), pp. 232-264. Ruggell: A.R.A. Gantner Verlag K.-G..

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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.

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Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 09 November 2017. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 19 April 2024