Sphaerobotrys Butcher, 1932

Holotype species: Sphaerobotrys fluviatilis Butcher

Original publication and holotype designation: Butcher, R.W. (1932). Notes on new and little-known algae from the beds of rivers. New Phytologist 31: 289-309.

Description: Thalli microscopic, attached directly to substratum by basal part of empty parental cell walls, embedded in extensive mucilaginous envelope. Young cells ellipsoid, later pear-shaped, rectangular or somewhat oblique, ca 5 µm long. Empty cell walls smooth and hyaline. Chloroplast parietal, with one pyrenoid. Asexual reproduction by 2-4 autospores, joined by empty parental cell walls at basal ends. Zoospores and sexual reproduction unknown. Sphaerobotrys sessile on stones in running freshwater; rare, reported only from western Europe. Genus poorly known; according to some authors synonymous with Ecballocystis.

Information contributed by: F. Hindák & D. Garbary. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2017-08-15 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: John, D.M. & Tsarenko, P.M. (2002). Order Chlorococcales. In: The Freshwater Algal Flora of the British Isles. An identification guide to freshwater and terrestrial algae. (John, D.M., Whitton, B.A. & Brook, A.J. Eds), pp. 327-409. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Verification of Data
Users are responsible for verifying the accuracy of information before use, as noted on the website Content page.

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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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=44278

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 15 August 2017. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 20 April 2024