Smithora Hollenberg, 1959
Holotype species: Smithora naiadum (C.L.Anderson) Hollenberg
Original publication and holotype designation: Hollenberg, G.J. (1959). Smithora, an interesting new algal genus in the Erythropeltidaceae. Pacific Naturalist 1(8): 3-11, 5 figures.
Request PDFDescription: One to several foliose, monostromatic blades, up to 60 mm or more in length, produced from a basal cushion of cells. Short rhizoidal protuberances emanate from cells of the basal layer in contact with the substratum. Vegetative cells with a single stellate chloroplast with central pyrenoid. Contain B-Type II phycoerythrin. Pit plugs absent and growth is diffuse. Asexual reproduction by archeospores which are abundantly produced during many months of the year. Entire vegetative cells transformed into archeosporangia with each releasing a single archeospore. At an ultrastructural level archeosporangia are characterized by an abundance of fibrous vesicles containing mucopolysaccharides. Monosporangium formation in marginal sori as a result of oblique or unequal cytokinesis was reported in the original description, but this has not been subsequently observed. Sexual reproduction has been documented, but the life history remains incompletely known. Foliose thalli are monoecious gametophytes. Spermatogenesis is initiated when vegetative cells of the monostromatic thallus divide anticlinally twice to give an associated group of four cells. Each of these cells then divides periclinally producing a distromatic region of the thallus. A subsequent, unequal periclinal division of each of these cells forms a small cell that becomes the spermatangium and a larger cell that becomes the carpogonium. At an ultrastructural level abundant fibrous vesicles appear during spermatogenesis. The carpogonium forms a short trichogyne that is the site of fertilization. The fate of the zygote and site of meiosis remain unresolved, but available evidence suggests it germinates into a diminutive, as yet unknown, life history stage.
Information contributed by: M. Hawkes.
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: Growing epiphytically on the seagrasses Phyllospadix scouleri Hooker, P. torreyi Watson, and Zostera marina Linnaeus. Bidirectional transfer of radioactively labelled metabolites between Smithora and its seagrass hosts have been documented. Geographical distribution from Kodiak I., Alaska to Isla Magdalena, Baja California, Mexico. Throughout its range Smithora blades seem to reach maximum abundance in spring and summer. In the autumn and winter some populations maintain themselves as basal cushions whereas others apparently disappear.
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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=42294
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 28 May 2023. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 26 April 2024
