Stylonema Reinsch, 1875

Holotype species: Stylonema cornu-cervi Reinsch

Original publication and holotype designation: Reinsch, P.F. (1875 '1874/75'). Contributiones ad algologiam et fungologiam. Vol. 1 pp. [i]-xii, [1]-103, [104, err.], 131 plates [I-III, IIIa, IV-VI, VIa, VII-XII, XIIa, XIII-XX, XXa, XXI-XXXV, XXXVa, XXXVI (Melanophyceae); I-XLII, XLIIa, XLIII-XLVII, XLVIIa, XLVIII-LXI (Rhodophyceae); I-XVIII (Chlorophyllophyceae); I-IX (Fungi)]. Norimbergae [Nürnberg]: Typis Theodor Haesslein.

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Description: Thallus minute, consisting of cells embedded in a mucilaginous sheath. May be uniseriate or pleuriseriate, forming pseudofilaments that may be unbranced, pseudodichotomously branched, or forming a monostromatic foliose blade. Each cell with a single stellate chloroplast with large central pyrenoid. Contains B-Type II phycoerythrin. Pit plugs absent. Growth is intercalary or diffuse, except in early stages of development following spore germination when growth may be apical. Attached to the substratum by an unmodified or slightly enlarged basal cell. Asexual reproduction by archeospores formed when entire vegetative cells are transformed into archeosporangia with each releasing a single, wall-less archeospore. Release occurs by the archeospore either moving through the surrounding sheath or by the dissolution of the sheath. Sexual reproduction unknown. Usually growing epiphytically on other algae or seagrasses, or epizoically on invertebrates to depths of 40 m. Cosmopolitan, being widely distributed in temperate and tropical waters.

Information contributed by: M. Hawkes. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2017-01-19 by M.D. Guiry.

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

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Schneider, C.W. & Wynne, M.J. (2007). A synoptic review of the classification of red algal genera a half a century after Kylin's "Die Gattungen der Rhodophyceen". Botanica Marina 50: 197-249.

Comments: Due to the simple morphology of this putatively ancient rhodophyte further study is needed to determine if the genus as currently composed is a monophyletic group.

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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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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=32932

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 19 January 2017. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 22 November 2024