Apiocystis Nägeli, 1849

Holotype species: Apiocystis brauniana Nägeli

Original publication and holotype designation: Nägeli, C. (1849). Gattungen einzelliger Algen, physiologisch und systematisch bearbeitet. Neue Denkschriften der Allg. Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für die Gesammten Naturwissenschaften 10(7): i-viii, 1-139, pls I-VIII.

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Description: Colonial thalli attached to substratum, forming pyriform to clavate or bulbous sacs 50-250 (-1200) &m tall, at maturity with up to several hundred cells embedded in mucilaginous matrix. Cells scattered in periphery of matrix or aggregated in groups of four or rings of eight cells. Cells with pair of straight, anterior pseudoflagella 4-8 times cell diameter projecting beyond colony sheath. Cells spherical to slightly egg shaped, 6-11 &m in diameter. Cells with smooth cell walls, uninucleate with anterior contractile vacuoles; single parietal chloroplast cup shaped, often with single stigma; pyrenoid basal or lateral with distinct starch sheath. Colony growth by cell division to form four cells. Asexual reproduction by swarmers formed directly from vegetative cells; after settlement these cells secrete matrix and begin dividing. Akinetes to 20 &m diameter described for A. brauniana. Sexual reproduction isogamous with four or eight biflagellate gametes formed per cell. Apiocystis epiphytic on filamentous algae or macrophytes in freshwater; A. brauniana known from Europe and North America, A. caput-medusae reported from Scandinavia, the former USSR and India. Species distinguished based on colony size, shape and number of cells. Relationships unclear although genus most similar to Tetraspora.

Information contributed by: D. Garbary & P. Kugrens. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2012-01-25 by M.D. Guiry.

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

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Tsarenko, P.M. (2011). Tetrasporales. In: Algae of Ukraine: diversity, nomenclature, taxonomy, ecology and geography. Volume 3: Chlorophyta. (Tsarenko, P.M., Wasser, S.P. & Nevo, E. Eds), pp. 225-232. Ruggell: A.R.A. Gantner Verlag K.-G..

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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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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=43483

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 25 January 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 26 April 2024