Cephalocystis A.J.K.Millar, G.W.Saunders, I.M.Strachan & Kraft, 1996
Holotype species: Cephalocystis furcellata (J.Agardh) A.J.K.Millar, G.W.Saunders, I.M.Strachan & Kraft
Original publication and holotype designation: Millar, A.J.K., Saunders, G.W., Strachan, I.M. & Kraft, G.T. (1996). The morphology, reproduction and small-subunit rRNA gene sequence of Cephalocystis (Rhodymeniaceae, Rhodophyta), a new genus based on Cordylecladia furcellata J. Agardh from Australia. Phycologia 35: 48-60, 30 figs, 1 table.
Request PDFDescription: Thallus with a coalesced crustose holdfast giving rise to many erect irregularly or subdichotomously branched terete or slightly compressed fronds; construction multiaxial, cortex of 2-3 layers of small cells, medulla of larger, relatively colourless, pseudoparencymatous, axially elongated cells. Gametangial plants dioecious; spermatangia in superficial sori in swollen apices, formed singly from elongated initials modified from cortical cells; procarpic, carpogonial branches 4-celled, borne on a subcortical supporting cell with a 2-celled auxiliary cell branch, gonimoblast developing outwards from a fusion cell, most cells being transformed to carposporangia in 2-3 lobes of different ages; cystocarps ostiolate, formed in clusters in slightly inflated or swollen areas at the apices, never coronate, strongly protruding outwards, tela arachnoidea absent but cells of pericarp often remaining stellate. Tetrasporangia formed in an intercalary position from cortical cells, in sori confined to swollen areas near apices, spores regularly cruciately or irregularly zonately arranged.
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: C. furcellata was for many years considered to be a species of Cordylecladia (J. Agardh 1876; Womersley 1996); although it strongly resembles this latter genus in external appearance and in many aspects of its reproduction, small-subunit rRNA gene sequences (Millar et al. 1996) indicate it is not closely related to either Cordylecladia or Rhodymenia. This appears to be a interesting case of remarkably similar morphologies evolving in quite different ways in very distant parts of the globe from quite unrelated ancestors.
C. furcellata is known from S. Australia, Victoria and Tasmania in Australia. C. leucobotrys Millar et al. (1996), which differs from C. furcellata mainly in the position of the cystocarps which are formed subterminally and laterally on axes that are somewhat inflated but not pod-like, is known only from New South Wales, Australia.
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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=42813
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 23 April 2024
