Petrospongium Nägeli ex Kützing, 1858

Holotype species: Petrospongium berkeleyi (Greville) Nägeli ex Kützing

Original publication and holotype designation: Kützing, F.T. (1858). Tabulae phycologicae; oder, Abbildungen der Tange. Vol. VIII pp. i-ii, 1-48, 100 plates. Nordhausen: Gedruckt auf kosten des Verfassers (in commission bei W. Köhne).

Request PDF

Description: Plants epilithic or epiphytic, solid, hemispherical to expanded, spongy, rugose cushions, more or less circular in shape, haplostichous, composed of prostrate basal cell layer giving off rhizoidal filaments downward, di-trichotomously branched medullary filaments consisting of large cylindrical barrel-shaped colorless cells, and almost isodiametric, simple or sparsely branched assimilatory filaments consisting of small pigmented cells. Medullary filaments not closely attached with each other. Colorless slender filaments issue from medullary filaments and extend horizontally. Unilocular sporangia formed on basal part or lower part of assimilatory filaments, sessile or on 1-3 celled stalk cells, ellipsoid, kidney-shaped or irregular in shape, attached laterally when mature. Plurilocular sporangia uncommon, reported to occur terminally on assimilatory filaments.

Information contributed by: H. Kawai. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2024-10-17 by M.D. Guiry.

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

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Womersley, H.B.S. (1987). The marine benthic flora of southern Australia. Part II. pp. [1]-484, 169 figs, 1 table, 8 plates, 4 maps. Adelaide: South Australian Government Printing Division.

Comments: Caram (1957) cultured unispores of P. berkeleyi and reported development of microthalli, however, whole life history not clear yet. Distributed in temperate area of North Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean including Australia. Spring to summer annual.

Verification of Data
Users are responsible for verifying the accuracy of information before use, as noted on the website Content page.

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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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=32911

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 17 October 2024. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 22 November 2024