Trichosolen Montagne, 1861

Holotype species: Trichosolen antillarum Montagne

Currently accepted name for the type species: Trichosolen duchassaingii (J.Agardh) W.R.Taylor

Original publication and holotype designation: Montagne, C. (1861 '1860'). Huitième centurie de plantes cellulaires nouvelles, tant indigènes qu'exotiques. Décades I et II. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Botanique, Serie 4 14: 167-185, pls 10, 11.

Description: Thallus often yellowish-green, from <5 cm. to 2 or more decimeters tall, consisting of one or several main axes arising from shared rhizoidal holdfast. Main axes at times sparingly bifurcate, covered with short soft finer branches (ramelli or pinnae) which also may branch, and are pinched basally. Life history, based on data from culture studies, is usually heteromorphic and biphasic. Specialized gametangia are borne on upper side and towards base of lower ramelli, are sessile or briefly stalked, broadly oval to nearly spherical, separated from ramelli by plug, and in some species at least, with apical papilla through which gametes are extruded. Gametangia monoecious in some species; gametes anisogamous in some, or possibly all species, and biflagellated. Zygote develops into microthallus of creeping, branched, irregularly constricted siphons to about 5 mm. long; terminal portions of some siphons may become erect. Microthallus has single giant nucleus; siphon walls, as for macrothallus, appear to contain mainly mannan. Reproductive phase of microthallus appears to involve the complete transformation of contents of siphons into many tear-shaped stephanokontic zooids, which subsequently are released terminally. Zooids, at least in one species, possess a long posterior tail and anterior ring of 8-20 or more flagella; they germinate to produce macrothallus of type described above. In at least one species direct development of macrothallus from microthallus has been reported. Thallus often yellowish-green, from <5 cm. to 2 or more decimeters tall, consisting of one or several main axes arising from shared rhizoidal holdfast. Main axes at times sparingly bifurcate, covered with short soft finer branches (ramelli or pinnae) which also may branch, and are pinched basally. Life history, based on data from culture studies, is usually heteromorphic and biphasic. Specialized gametangia are borne on upper side and towards base of lower ramelli, are sessile or briefly stalked, broadly oval to nearly spherical, separated from ramelli by plug, and in some species at least, with apical papilla through which gametes are extruded. Gametangia monoecious in some species; gametes anisogamous in some, or possibly all species, and biflagellated. Zygote develops into microthallus of creeping, branched, irregularly constricted siphons to about 5 mm. long; terminal portions of some siphons may become erect. Microthallus has single giant nucleus; siphon walls, as for macrothallus, appear to contain mainly mannan. Reproductive phase of microthallus appears to involve the complete transformation of contents of siphons into many tear-shaped stephanokontic zooids, which subsequently are released terminally. Zooids, at least in one species, possess a long posterior tail and anterior ring of 8-20 or more flagella; they germinate to produce macrothallus of type described above. In at least one species direct development of macrothallus from microthallus has been reported.

Information contributed by: L. Hillis. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2011-08-29 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.

Comments: Trichosolen is widely distributed in warm waters, including those of Caribbean, Mediterranean, Canary Islands, west Africa, Red Sea, Mauritius, China, Japan, and Hawaiian Islands. Thalli grow attached to hard substrata, extending vertically from near low intertidal to at least -6m. Habitats include relatively swift currents, sheltered lagoons, edges of mangrove thickets and under rock overhangs. Thalli may develop as part of a mixed species turf spreading over damaged reef areas, suggesting opportunistic behavior.

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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=38697

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 29 August 2011. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 22 November 2024