Heterodesmus Ettl, 1956

Holotype species: Heterodesmus bichloris Ettl

Original publication and holotype designation: Ettl, H. (1956). Ein Beitrag zur Systematik der Heterokonten. Botaniska Notiser 109: 411-455, 20 figs.

Description: Colonial organisms forming 2 to 32 celled coenobia (very rarely isolated cells) with cells in linear array and sometimes staggered in pairs with cells aligned with respect to each other. General mucilage rare. Cells 5-15 _m long and 2-6 _m wide, ellipsoid to ovoid elongate, cylindrical or elliptical or rhomboid with apices pointed to bluntly rounded. In apical view cells circular or elliptical or rhomboid. Cell wall fine, smooth or thick. Chloroplasts one to six, yellow-green and parietal and devoid of pyrenoids. As cells age large oil droplets appear. Asexual reproduction by autosporulation. Autospores in linear series of two or four cells (rarely more) inside mother cell wall. Heterodesmus from stagnant or flowing freshwater, rarely reported; known from central and western Europe and South America. Based on morphology genus possibly confused with the chlorococcalean green alga, Scenedesmus. Species distinguished based on the morphology and dimensions of cells and the number of chloroplasts.

Information contributed by: H. R. Preisig. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2023-11-01 by Salvador Valenzuela Miranda.

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: Kawai, H. & Nakayama, T. (2015). Introduction (Heterokontobionta p.p.), Cryptophyta, Dinophyta, Haptophyta, Heterokontophyta (except Coscinodiscophyceae, Mediophyceae, Fragilariophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Phaeophyceae, Eustigmatophyceae), Chlorarachniophyta, Euglenophyta. In: Syllabus of plant families. Adolf Engler's Syllabus der Pflanzenfamilien. Ed. 13. Phototrophic eukaryotic Algae. Glaucocystophyta, Cryptophyta, Dinophyta/Dinozoa, Haptophyta, Heterokontophyta/Ochrophyta, Chlorarachnniophyta/Cercozoa, Chlorophyta, Streptophyta p.p. (Frey, W. Eds), pp. 11-64, 103-139. Stuttgart: Borntraeger Science Publishers.

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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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=46509

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
Salvador Valenzuela Miranda in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 01 November 2023. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 06 May 2024