Physocytium Borzì, 1883

Holotype species: Physocytium confervicola Borzì

Original publication and holotype designation: Borzì, A. (1883). Studi algologici. Saggio di richerche sulla biologia delle Alghe. Fascicolo I. pp. [i]-vi, [i, h.t.], [i]-i 117, [i, cont.], errata slip, IX pls., uncol. liths. by author. Messina: Gaetano Capra e Co. Editori.

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Description: Thalli initially unicellular with cells attaching to substratum by tips of flagella. Cell walls enlarge leaving protoplast withdrawn from walls and cell produces additional apical flagella resulting in cell that swarms within parental wall. Successive divisions produce 2-16 daughter cells. Cells subspherical to oval, 6-8 x 3-4 &m, with smooth cell walls. Cells with lateral stigma in mid-portion of cells and two contractile vacuoles at cell apex. Cells uninucleate; single chloroplast cup-shaped and parietal with single axial pyrenoid. Asexual reproduction by zoospores; sporangium develops from enlarged vegetative cell. Sexual reproduction poorly described; gametes similar to zoospores and ?isogamous. Zygotes spherical with thick cell wall. Physocytium attached in freshwater; reported only from Italy and India. The Indian material described as separate species regarded doubfully distinct from P. confervicola.

Information contributed by: D. Garbary. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2012-06-29 by Michael Guiry.

Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.

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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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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=47384

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
Michael Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 29 June 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 19 April 2024