Compsopogon Montagne, 1846

Lectotype species: Compsopogon caeruleus (Balbis ex C.Agardh) Montagne

Original publication: Montagne, [J.F.]C. (1846). Flore d'Algérie. Ordo I. Phyceae Fries. In: Exploration scientifique de l'Algérie pendant les années 1840, 1841, 1842...Sciences physiques. Botanique. Cryptogamie. (Durieu De Maisonneuve, M.C. Eds) Vol. 1, pp. 1-197. Paris: Imprimerie Royale, publiée par ordre du Gouvernement et avec le concours d'une Commission Académique.

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Type designated in: Schmitz, F. (1896). Compsopogonaceae. In: Die natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien nebst ihren Gattungen und wichtigeren Arten insbesondere den Nutzpflanzen unter Mitwirkung zahlreicher hervorragender Fachgelehrten, Teil 1, Abteilung 2. (Engler, A. & Prantl, K. Eds), pp. 318-320. Leipzig: verlag von Wilhelm Engelmann.

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Description: Branched, bluish to violet-green, uniseriate filament with older portions corticated. Small-celled cortex produced by vertical division of axial cells. Plants up to 20-50 cm long and 250-2000 µm diam. Axial cells enlarge and are evident by slight constrictions in older portions. Axial cells may break down, leaving hollow cylinder. May be free-floating or benthic. If attached, rhizoids formed by outgrowths of lower cortical cells. Cortical cells 7-22 x 10-48 µm, containing several peripheral, discoid chloroplasts. Reproduction by fragmentation or monosporangia, which are formed from corticalor uncorticated axial cells. Monospore divides into creeping, branched filament; a central cell eventually elongates vertically and divides to form erect stage. Microaplanospores reported may represent spermatia but not confirmed.

Information contributed by: R.G. Sheath. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2021-11-26 by M.D. Guiry.

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

Gender: This genus name is currently treated as masculine.

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Täuscher, L.. (2011). Compsopogon Montagne in Bory et Durieaux 1846. pp. [2]. Germany: Unpublished report.

Comments: C. caeruleus chromosome number n = 12. Pit plugs in this species formed between axial and cortical cells and between cortical cells, < 0.2 µm diam., and lacking caps and cap membranes. Serial sectioning reveals that axial cells have single interconnected, parietal chloroplast. Phycobilisomes hemidiscoidal ca. 25-30 nm diam. Molar ratio of phycobiliproteins: 1 phycoerthyrin: 3 phycocyanin: 1 allophycocyanin. C. hookeri exhibits maximum photosynthesis at 30-35°C. Cell wall composed of cellulose and xylan fibrils and an amorphous component containing galactose. Amino acids, particularly glycine and serine, label rapidly and account for < 45% of fixed carbon after 30 min. of 14C incubation. Subsequently, proportion of label increases in soluble carbohydrates.

Largely distributed in tropical and subtropical streams worldwide. C. corinaldii restricted to Italy, C. caeruleus extends from tropical to temperate climates. Generally in alkaline waters, occasionally occurring in coastal lagoons, estuaries. Usually epilithic but can be epiphytic. C. caeruleus found epizoic on parasitic copepod Lernaea while it is attached to cyprinid fish in Mud River, Kentucky. Thalli of C. caeruleus can tolerate up to 1530 - 640 kN m-2 stress before breaking, stretching 25 - 8% in the process.

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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=33142

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 26 November 2021. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 29 March 2024

 
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