Aphanocladia Falkenberg, 1897

Holotype species: Aphanocladia delicatula (Hooker f. & Harvey) Falkenberg

Original publication and holotype designation: Schmitz, F. & Falkenberg, P. (1897). Rhodomelaceae. 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. 421-480. Leipzig: verlag von Wilhelm Engelmann.

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Description: Thallus forming prostrate and erect polysiphonous branch systems; prostrate system cylindrical to compressed, attached by rhizoids forming multicellular tagmatic disks; upright branches from dorsal side of prostrate branch, flattened and distichously branched with determinate laterals alternately arranged on the axis, one on each segment. Branching usually exogenous, non-emergent trichoblasts formed in spiral pattern on axis, but only lateral ones developing into determinate polysiphonous laterals, the transverse ones remaining dormant; trichoblasts on transverse (flattened) sides usually remaining non-emergent, sometimes becoming multicellular. Determinate laterals unbranched or branch 1-2 times; fusion of proximal segments with adjacent segments of axis in some species. Pericentral cells 4, partly corticated or uncorticated. Reproductive organs on determinate laterals in distal positions; male capitula cylindrical, a proximal branch of emergent trichoblast; procarps on basal part of trichoblasts replacing second order branches on determinate laterals; pre-fertilization formation of pericarp as in most other Rhodomelaceae. Tetrasporangia in a spiral series within determinate laterals; 1 per segment.

Information contributed by: R.E. Norris. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2017-01-26 by M.D. Guiry.

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

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Athanasiadis, A. (2016). Phycologia Europaea Rhodophyta Vol. II. pp. [2], 763-1504. Thessaloniki: Published and distributed by the author.

Comments: Mostly subtidal in temperate regions; southern Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina and Chile. Because Aphanocladia forms dormant branch initials (non-emergent trichoblasts) on the transverse sides of thalli, the alternate-distichous branching pattern not developing as a primary system, Hommersand (1963) suggested that it its relationship may be closer to Polysiphonia rather than Pterosiphonia.

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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=33319

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 26 January 2017. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 23 November 2024