Erythrymenia Schmitz ex Mazza, 1921
Holotype species: Erythrymenia obovata F.Schmitz ex Mazza
Original publication and holotype designation: Mazza, A. (1921). Aggiunte al saggio di algologia oceanica (Florideae). Nuova Notarisia 32: 1-48, 73-132.
Request PDFDescription: Thallus with a discoid holdfast and erect flattened simple or subsimple cartilaginous fronds, sometimes bearing stout papillae. Construction multiaxial, cortical cells small in branched, anticlinal rows merging into the medulla. Medulla of large, axially elongated cells; with age, smaller cells developing between the larger medullary cells, generally forming first in the papillae when present. Gametangial plants dioecious; spermatangia in extensive sori, formed singly from terminal cortical cells. Carpogonial and auxiliary cell branches unknown; gonimoblast developing outwards, most cells forming carposporangia. Cystocarps ostiolate, marginal or scattered, never coronate, strongly protruding outwards, tela arachnoidea absent. Tetrasporangia in scattered nemathecial sori. Spores regularly or irregularly cruciately arranged. Nothing is known of the life history or development in culture of species of Erythrymenia but all are likely to have a 'Polyiphonia-type' life history.
Information contributed by: M.D. Guiry. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2010-10-08 by M.D. Guiry.
Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.
Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Schneider, C.W. & Wynne, M.J. (2007). A synoptic review of the classification of red algal genera a half a century after Kylin's "Die Gattungen der Rhodophyceen". Botanica Marina 50: 197-249.
Comments: Erythrymenia is distinguished from other genera of the Rhodymeniaceae on the basis that the fronds are thick and cartilaginous, cortical cells do not show an abrupt transition to medullary cells, and secondary cells are formed in the medulla (perhaps by intercalary divisions of the medullary cells). Only the type species is papillate. Three species of the genus have been described: Erythrymenia obovata Schmitz ex Mazza from South Africa, and E. meredithiana (J. G. Agardh) Kylin and E. minuta Kylin from Australia, both of which are poorly known.
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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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera,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=35209
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 08 October 2010. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 19 April 2024
