Caulerpella Prud’homme van Reine & Lokhorst, 1992

Holotype species: Caulerpella ambigua (Okamura) Prud'homme & Lokhorst

Currently accepted name for the type species: Caulerpa ambigua Okamura

Original publication and holotype designation: Prud'homme van Reine, W.F. & Lokhorst, G.M. (1992). Caulerpella gen. nov. a non-holocarpic member of the Caulerpales (Chlorophyta). Nova Hedwigia 54: 113-126, 13 figs, 1 table.

Description: Plants comprised of coenocytic branched filamentous tufts to 2 cm tall, with extensively branched rhizoids and short to long stoloniferous bases. Stolons irregularly branched with undulating outline, 85-210 µm diameter. Erect axes sparsely branched in lower portions; upper portions radially or distichously branched forming branchlets of similar length that may or may not be constricted at the bases. Cells highly multinucleate with numerous, small discoid chloroplasts. Asexual reproduction by vegetative propagation of the stolons and by zooidangia. Zooidangia formed on lateral branches cut off from sterile parts of plant with transverse cell wall. Zooidangia shortly stalked with 2-4 lobes in compound whorls formed at basal portion of fertile branch. Spore release by discharge tube at apex of fertile branch. Sexual reproduction unknown, but presumably similar to Caulerpa.

Information kindly contributed by D. Garbary but may now be outdated.

Taxonomic status: This name is currently regarded as a synonym of Caulerpa.

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Draisma, S.G.A., van Reine, W.F.P., Sauvage, T., Belton, G.S., Gurgel, C.F.D., Lim, P.E. & Phang, S.M. (2014). A re-assessment of the infra-generic classification of the genus Caulerpa (Caulerpaceae, Chlorophyta) inferred from a time-calibrated molecular phylogeny. Journal of Phycology 50(6): 1020-1034.

Comments: Caulerpella ambigua cosmopolitan in tropical seas on sheltered to exposed coasts in littoral pools to depths of 15-20 m. Pending molecular studies on Caulerpella, the genus is retained as doubtfully distinct from Caulerpa based on the morphology of reproductive structures. Caulerpa vickersiae Børgesen and C. biloba Kemperman and Stegenga are considered synonyms of Caulerpella ambigua.

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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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

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Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
Wendy Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 14 January 2015. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 18 April 2024