Tilopteris Kützing, 1849

Holotype species: Tilopteris mertensii (Turner) Kützing

Original publication and holotype designation: Kützing, F.T. (1849). Species algarum. pp. [i]-vi, [1]-922. Lipsiae [Leipzig]: F.A. Brockhaus.

Request PDF

Description: Plants tufted, branched filamentous, monosiphonous but partly parenchymatous, with distinct main axis of trichothallic growth and opposite branches, attached by basal rhizoidal holdfast and rhizoidal filaments descending from the lower polysiphonous part, yellowish to dark brown in color, up to 30 cm in length. Intercalary, plurilocular, tubular antheridia and monosporangium-like oogonia form on the same thalli on ultimate branches (or long several celled stalks) terminated with phaeophycean hairs. Oogonia form in series of up to 8. Each cells contain many disc-shaped chloroplasts without pyrenoids. Sperm pear-shaped, normally biflagellated. Sexual reproduction not observed. South (1972) and Kuhlenkamp and Müller (1985) cultured T. mertensii and showed a succession of identical plants through asexual eggs which develop parthenogenetically. Sperm did not germinate. Occasional occurrences of loculi releasing large spores at the basal region of antheridia reported. Those spores which develop into erect thalli. Damman (1930) reported fertilization of these spores, although Kuhlenkamp and Müller (1985) did not observe their fusions. The latter authors also reported absence of sexual pheromone secretion from eggs, and chromosome number of n=62 (60-65) in the species. Distributed in temperate and cold water area of North Atlantic Ocean.

Information contributed by: H. Kawai. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2017-07-28 by M.D. Guiry.

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

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Silberfeld, T., Rousseau, F. & Reviers, B. de (2014). An updated classification of brown algae (Ochrophyta, Phaeophyceae). Cryptogamie Algologie 35(2): 117-156, 1 fig., 1 table.

Verification of Data
Users are responsible for verifying the accuracy of information before use, as noted on the website Content page.

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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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=37613

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 28 July 2017. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 22 November 2024