Kirchneriella Schmidle, 1893

Holotype species: Kirchneriella lunaris (Kirchner) Möbius

Original publication and holotype designation: Schmidle, W. (1893). Beiträge zur Algenflora des Schwartzwaldes und der Rheinebene. Bericht der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft zu Freiburg 7: 68-112, 6 pls.

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Description: Thalli microscopic and colonial with 2-4-8 to 64 cells dispersed in homogenous mucilaginous envelope. Cells cylindrical, lunate, sickle-shaped, twisted fusiform or spirally twisted, 3-40 x 1-7 µm, with smooth cell walls. Cells uninucleate; chloroplast single and parietal, pyrenoids 1-4 per cell. Asexual reproduction by autospores, 2-4-8 per sporangium, produced in a series and released by rupture of parental cell wall. Flagellated stages and sexual reproduction unknown. Kirchneriella planktonic or in littoral in freshwater; virtually cosmopolitan in tropical and temperate regions. Genus distinguished from Ankistrodesmus where autospores are not in series, and from Fusola where chloroplasts are multiple. Species distinguished based on cell size and shape. Closteriococcus poorly defined and synonymy with Kirchneriella not accepted by all authorities. Pseudokirchneriella Hindák recently proposed for species without pyrenoids and with smooth cell walls.

Information contributed by: D. Garbary & F. Hindák. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2012-01-27 by M.D. Guiry.

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

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Tsarenko, P.M. (2011). Sphaeropleales. In: Algae of Ukraine: diversity, nomenclature, taxonomy, ecology and geography. Volume 3: Chlorophyta. (Tsarenko, P.M., Wasser, S.P. & Nevo, E. Eds), pp. 280-355. Ruggell: A.R.A. Gantner Verlag K.-G..

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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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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=43436

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 27 January 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 23 November 2024