Actinastrum Lagerheim, 1882

Holotype species: Actinastrum hantzschii Lagerheim

Original publication and holotype designation: Lagerheim, G. (1882). Bidrag till kännedomen om stockholmstraktens Pediastreer, Protococcaceer och Palmellaceer. Öfversigt af Kongl. Vetenskaps-Akademiens Förhandlingar Arg. 39(2): 47-81, 2 pls.

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Description: Thalli usually colonial, rarely solitary, forming 2- or 8-celled coenobia with cells radiating from a center and embedded in mucilaginous matrix. Cells elongate to linear with acute, obtuse or truncate cell apex. Cells 7-40 x 1-8 µm, connected only at base. Cells uninucleate; chloroplast single and parietal with pyrenoid. Asexual reproduction by autospores, 4-16 per sporangium, usually organized in one coenobium or disintegrated in single cells; spore release by dissolution of parental cell wall. Sexual reproduction unknown. Actinastrum planktonic in eutrophic freshwater ponds and lakes, reported world-wide except in arctic and subarctic climates. Relationships of genus unclear and taxon also assigned to Selenastraceae. Habit similar to some diatoms with asteroid cell arrangement (Nitzschia, Synedra).

Information contributed by: E. Hegewald. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2013-03-22 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). Trebouxiophyceae. In: Algae of Ukraine: diversity, nomenclature, taxonomy, ecology and geography. Volume 3: Chlorophyta. (Tsarenko, P.M., Wasser, S.P. & Nevo, E. Eds), pp. 61-108. 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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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=43466

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 22 March 2013. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 23 November 2024