Botryosphaerella P.C.Silva, 1970

Holotype species: Botryosphaerella sudetica (Lemmermann) P.C.Silva

Original publication and holotype designation: Silva, P.C. (1970). Remarks on algal nomenclature. IV. Taxon 19: 941-945.

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Description: Thalli microscopic, 80-200 µm or more in diameter, forming spherical or oval but mostly irregular grape-like colonies; in later stages with 2-3 or more subcolonies connected by mucilaginous strands. Cells spherical to widely oval, 10-20 µm in diameter or length, densely heaped in colonies and with basal parts attached to remnants of parental cell walls. Branching of cell wall fragments irregular, in central parts of colonies in broad stalks, in young colonies with heaped cells indistinct. Cells uninucleate with many oil droplets of various sizes and 1-2 or more irregular vacuoles with one irregular granule. Chloroplast single, covering entire cell periphery except for small opening with radial projections at free end of cell; pyrenoid absent. Asexual reproduction by 2 autospores. The protoplast divides into two equal parts, and enlargement of autospores causes splitting of parental wall at free and basal ends into two funnel shaped pieces each with attached spore. With subsequent sporulation a system of irregular overdrawn remnants of parental cell walls produced. Zoospores and sexual reproduction unknown. Botryosphaerella mostly in peat-bogs or with Sphagnum in littoral of oligotrophic to dystrophic pools and small lakes, sometimes in great abundance; recorded in Europe but probably cosmopolitan. Botryosphaerella closely related to Botryococcus but distinguished based on cells not being embedded in special mucilaginous envelope and by the absence of pyrenoids. B. sudeticus with up to 20% dry weight in triglycerides with chemical composition and biomass production influenced by light intensity and daylength. Key ref.: *Silva (1970)

Information contributed by: F. Hindák & D. Garbary. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2014-04-02 by Wendy Guiry.

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

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Fuciková, K., Lewis, P.O. & Lewis, L.A. (2014). Putting incertae sedis taxa in their place: a proposal for ten new families and three new genera in Sphaeropleales (Chlorophyceae, Chlorophyta). Journal of Phycology 50(1): 14-25.

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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=44245

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
Wendy Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 02 April 2014. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 23 November 2024