Spermothamnion Areschoug, 1847

Holotype species: Spermothamnion turneri (Mertens ex Roth) Areschoug

Currently accepted name for the type species: Spermothamnion repens (Dillwyn) Magnus

Original publication and holotype designation: Areschoug, J.E. (1847). Phycearum, quae in maribus Scandinaviae crescunt, enumeratio. Sectio prior Fucaceas continens. Nova Acta Regiae Societatis Scientiarum Upsaliensis 13: 223-382, pls I-IX.

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Description: Thallus of prostrate and erect axes, variously branched, ecorticate. Procarps subapical, 4-celled carpogonial branch on one (supporting cell) of 3 pericentral cells, 2 of which produce auxiliary cells. Carposporophytes branched with terminal cells becoming carposporangia. Large fusion cell formed and 4 involucral filaments. Spermatangial heads sessile or stalked. Tetrasporangia on short stalks, tetrahedrally divided.

Information contributed by: E.M. Wollaston. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2017-03-25 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: Closely related to Tiffaniella Doty and Menez which differs in lacking an involucre and in having a T-shaped fusion cell and usually modified prostrate system (vide Huisman (1985 - phylogeny and relationships). Widespread. Recorded from most coasts.

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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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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=33060

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 25 March 2017. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 19 April 2024