Monomastix Scherffel, 1912

Holotype species: Monomastix opisthostigma Scherffel

Original publication and holotype designation: Scherffel, A. (1912). Zwei neue, trichocystenartige Bildungen führende Flagellaten. Archiv für Protistenkunde 27: 94-128.

Description: Unicellular flagellates with single flagellum emerging just behind the anterior end. Second flagellum present as a basal body only. Cells oblong with single parietal chloroplast covering most of the cell surface. One or two pyrenoids occupy a lateral position. An eyespot, if present, is located near the posterior end. Very conspicuous are the so-called trichocysts, straight, colourless cylinders, a bundle of up to 11 in the posterior part of the cell, and occasionally 1-2 more anteriorly. The long axis of each trichocyst is parallel to the long axis of the cell. Young cells contain only 1-2 trichocysts, and some species have been described to contain only indistinct trichocysts. One, rarely two, contractile vacuoles present anteriorly. The flagellum emerges from a groove near the front end. The distal half of the flagellum is very thin and contains only a single microtubule in the species examined. At rest the flagellum is curved backwards along the sides of the cell or held obliquely in front or more or less perpendicular to the long axis of the cell. The cell is covered with a periplast of very thin imbricated submicroscopical scales very unlike scales found in any other green alga. Coccoid stages known from cultures only. Cysts (probably asexual) surrounded by smooth colourless refractile wall. Cysts with reticulate wall seen by Korshikov (1938) and Scherffel (1912).

Information contributed by: Ø. Moestrup. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2013-04-20 by M.D. Guiry.

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

Comments: The described species differ mainly in cell size, shape and presence or absence of stigma.

Verification of Data
Users are responsible for verifying the accuracy of information before use, as noted on the website Content page.

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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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=43572

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 20 April 2013. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 16 April 2024