Echinosphaeridium Lemmermann, 1904

Holotype species: Echinosphaeridium nordstedtii Lemmermann

Original publication and holotype designation: Lemmermann, E. (1904). Das Plankton schwedischer Gewässer. Arkiv för Botanik 2(2): 1-209.

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Description: Thalli unicellular, consisting of spherical cells, 5-24 µmdiameter, without mucilage envelope but with 4-40 radially arranged spines projecting from smooth cell walls. Spines 35-55 µmlong with conical base merging with spine 4-10 µmabove cell surface. Above base, spine with fine taper to pointed tips. Cells uninucleate; chloroplast single and parietal covering most of cell walls with single pyrenoid. Asexual reproduction poorly described, apparently by zoospores. Sexual reproduction unknown. Echnosphaeridium planktonic and rare in freshwater. Type species reported from northern Europe and Canada, E. hexacantha from Argentina and E. quadrisetum from the Philippines; species probably more widely distributed. Genus included with Golenkinia by some authors, however, spine structure and absence of extracellular mucilage distinguish Echinosphaeridium. Species distinguished based on cell size and spine number

Information contributed by: D. Garbary. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2012-01-27 by M.D. Guiry.

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

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Tsarenko, P.M. (2011). Sphaeropleales. In: Algae of Ukraine: diversity, nomenclature, taxonomy, ecology and geography. Volume 3: Chlorophyta. (Tsarenko, P.M., Wasser, S.P. & Nevo, E. Eds), pp. 280-355. 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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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.

Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=47448

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 27 January 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 24 April 2024