Nitella mucronata (A.Braun) Miquel 1841

Current name: Nitella mucronata (A.Braun) Miquel
Castor Backwater, River Nene, Northamptonshire (as VC32), UK. Collected by Peter Kirby and Sarah Lambert - 07 September 2012. C.F.Carter (chris.carter@6cvw.freeuk,com)

Publication Details
Nitella mucronata (A.Braun) Miquel 1841: 428, no fig.

Published in: Miguel, F.A.G. (1841 '1840'). Algae. In: Flora Belgii septentrionalis sive Florae Batavae compendium Vol. II, pars II continens lichenes et algas. (Hall, H.C. Eds), pp. [353]-477. Te Amsterdam: bij J.C. Sepp.

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Publication date: 14 Feb 1841 [TL-2]

Type Species
The type species (lectotype) of the genus Nitella is Nitella opaca (C.Agardh ex Bruzelius) C.Agardh.

Status of Name
This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.

Basionym
Chara mucronata A.Braun

Type Information
Syntpe locality: "Hab. apud nos rara. — Helv. — Berol." [Switzerland; Berlin]; (Braun 1834: 351) Neotype: Jack; Oktober 1858; NY; Braun, Rabenhorst & Stizenberger, Characeen Eur. 30 (Wood 1965: 504) Notes: Neotype locality: "Salem" [Schleswig-Holstein, Germany?].

Origin of Species Name
Adjective (Latin), ending in a short, sharp point.

General Environment
This is a freshwater species.

Description
The plants are 10-30 cm high and dark green. The axis is between 0.5 -1mm in diameter. The fertile branchlets are divided two or three times, and the sterile branchlets are divided one or two times. The dactyls are 2 (rarely 3) celled, mucronate and have acute end-cells. The species is monoecious. The gametangia are conjoined. The oogonia are solitary or geminate, and often absent from the lowest branchlet nodes. The oogonia are less than 500 m long. The oospores are dark brown and have reticulate membrane and prominent ridges. The antheridia are 200-300 m in diameter.

Habitat
Nitella mucronata has been found in puddles, ditches and lakes. The water is normally more or less alkaline, oligotrophic to mesotrophic. It can also be found in humic alkaline waters and in brackish water. The species seems to benefit from dredging of canals and ditches. N. mucronata is a perennial species and it is green during the winter. Normally it has fertile plant from July and until September. Ripe oospores, which are dark brown are not common. According to Hasslow (1931) the species is a late-summer to autumn species.

Created: 11 April 2002 by M.D. Guiry.

Last updated: 22 January 2025

Verification of Data
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Taxonomic note
Combination also proposed by Cosson & Germain de Saint-Pierre. Fl. Paris: 683. Atlas Fl. Paris: pl. XL: D. 1845 - (01 December 2014) - Salvador Valenzuela Miranda

Conservational notes
"Nitellamucronata is assessed as CR (Critically Endangered) in the Iberian Peninsula, EN (Endangered) in Denmark and Switzerland. In other countries such as Norway and Poland, the species is classified as Vulnerable or R (Rare) in Ireland. A decline of N. mucronata in previously known sites has been observed, but new locations are also being found, although the species requires detailed monitoring throughout parts of its range. Nitella mucronata is threatened by various threats such as eutrophication, that can lead to decreasing light penetration in lakes and other water bodies where it can be found." (Gabka & Urbaniak 2024). - (22 January 2025) - M.D. Guiry
"Nitella mucronata is a cosmopolitan species recorded from almost all of the World. It is reported from Central and South America, Africa, Asia and Europe (Corillion, 1957a, Korsch, 2018, Migula, 1889%u20131897). In Europe it is common from Finland, Hungary, Spain, Germany, Poland and France, locally in Ireland, Norway and Turkey (Krause, 1997). It is especially common in Britain, France, Germany and Poland (over 100 currently known localities). Currently the species is disappearing from many localities in Europe, and it is a vulnerable species in some parts of its distri-bution range. The most probable threats are eutrophication and acidification and humification of the lakes." (Gabka & Urbaniak 2024). Sweden: EN (Gärdenfors 2005), Norway VU (Kålås et al. 2006). In Norway this species has been found in 9 localities after 1990. In Sweden it is known from 11 recent localities (Gärdenfors 2005). In Finland the species has not been found. The situation in Denmark is unknown. Proposed red list status for the whole area is EN (endangered). - (22 January 2025) - M.D. Guiry

Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=35597

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 22 January 2025. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 03 April 2025