Spinoclosterium C.Bernard, 1909

Holotype species: Spinoclosterium curvatum C.Bernard

Original publication and holotype designation: Bernard, C. (1909). Sur quelques algues unicellulaires d'eau douce récoltées dans le Domaine Malaise. pp. 94, 6 plates. Batavia: Départament de l'Agriculture aux Indes Néerlandais.

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Description: Cells solitary, stongly curved, elongate-fusiform, with stout spine on each end. Cell wall smooth, with two pieces meeting at median suture. Chloroplasts two per cell, elongate, axial, with lateral longitudinal ridges and scattered pyrenoids. Nucleus in middle between chloroplasts. Each end of cell with vacuole containing small crystals. Asexual reproduction by transverse division at median suture and subsequent daughter cell morphogenesis by gradual expansion of new semicell. Unique feature is the side-by-side position of daughter cells, caused by ring of granular, pink mucilage near median suture. Asexual spores known. Sexual reproduction by homothallic, anisogamous conjugation. Gametangia asymmetric and differ in size, possibly sister cells from recent division. Conjugation tube present, surrounded by granular, pink mucilage, gamete from smaller (male) gametangium migrates though tube into larger (female) gametangium. Mature zygospore curved, not occupying entire female gametangium. Karyogamy probably during germination, followed by meiosis, which produces two gones. Spinoclosterium cuspidatum known from North America, South America, Indonesian archipelago, North Australia, Mozambique and Japan. Typically in acidic, oligotrophic lakes and ponds or Sphagnum bogs; isolated recods from alkaline habitats (pH 8.0-8.5). Except for stout terminal spines, and different sexual reproduction, Spinoclosterium resembles Closterium and is treated by some authors as Closterium cuspidatum.

Information contributed by: J.F. Gerrath. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2013-09-12 by M.D. Guiry.

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

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Guiry, M.D. (2013). Taxonomy and nomenclature of the Conjugatophyceae (=Zygnematophyceae). Algae. An International Journal of Algal Research 28: 1-29.

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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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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=43544

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 12 September 2013. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 16 April 2024