Trochiscia Kützing, 1834

Type species: a type species (generitype) appears not to have been designated.

Original publication: Kützing, F.T. (1834 '1833'). Synopsis diatomearum oder Versuch einer systematischen Zusammenstellung der Diatomeen. Linnaea 8: 529-620, + pls XIII-XIX [79 figs].

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Description: Thalli unicellular and solitary (rarely aggregated), with spherical to subspherical cells 8-50 µm diameter. Cell walls thick, variously sculptured with numerous short spines 4-7 µm long, ridges, reticulations or rounded projections. Cells uninucleate; single chloroplast variable, stellate and axial or parietal; with or without pyrenoids. Asexual reproduction by division of the protoplast into 4-16 to many autospores or zoospores; released by rupture of parental cell wall. Sexual reproduction unknown. Trochiscia planktonic in permanent or semipermanent freshwater systems; in temperate waters of Northern Hemisphere with numerous reports from Europe and North America. Genus also placed in Oocystaceae by some authors. Species distinguished by details of cell morphology, especially the structure and ornamentation of the cell walls. Many described Trochiscia species require culturing to confirm their assignment to this genus; many taxa may represent zygospores or aplanospores of other chlorophycean algae.

Information kindly contributed by D. Garbary but may now be outdated.

Taxonomic status: The taxonomic or nomenclatural status (or both) of this entity is in some way unresolved and requires further investigation.

Gender: This genus name is currently treated as feminine.

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Silva, P.C. (1996). Taxonomic and nomenclatural status of Trochiscia Kützing and Trochiscia moniliformis Montagne. Cryptogamie Algologie 17: 69-75.

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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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

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Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 12 November 2024. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 22 November 2024