Arthrocardia Decaisne, 1842
Lectotype species: Arthrocardia corymbosa (Lamarck) Decaisne
Original publication: Decaisne, J. (1842). Essais sur une classification des algues et des polypiers calcifères de Lamouroux. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Botanique, Seconde Série 17: 297-380, [pls 14-17].
Request PDFType designated in: Manza, A.V. (1940). A revision of the genera of articulated corallines. Philippine Journal of Science 71: 239-316, 20 pls.
Description: Thalli comprising extensive crustose holdfasts bearing one to several erect, branched, articulated fronds. Fronds of calcified intergenicula separated by uncalcified genicula. Branching pinnate in vegetative parts, dichotomous in fertile parts. Intergenicula of arching tiers of straight medullary cells surrounded by a photosynthetic cortex and unistratose layer of epithallial cells. Cells in contiguous filaments often fusing; secondary pit-connections lacking. Genicula consisting of single tiers of long, straight, unbranched cells uncalcified except where they project into neighboring intergenicula. Trichocytes unknown, but probably present. Reproductive cells forming within conceptacles originating in medullary meristems at branch apices in line with branch axes (axial conceptacles). At maturity, a single deeply embedded conceptacle terminating axis of each fertile intergeniculum. Conceptacle pores central or subapical. Fertile intergenicula bearing two branches, one on each side of pore. These branches may continue to bear conceptacles and branch again. Pseudolateral conceptacles lacking. Tetrasporangial conceptacles containing >30 mature tetrasporangia prior to spore discharge. Bisporangia unknown. Sexual plants dioecious. Pore of each spermatangial conceptacle opening at tip of short or long beak projecting from roof. Carpogonial conceptacles with extensive layer of supporting cells with carpogonial filaments. Carposporangial conceptacles containing broad, thin fusion cells with gonimoblast filaments arising from upper surface. Spores presumably germinating into crustose sporelings by the Corallina-type of spore germination. Common in southern Africa; less common in India, in southern Australia, and in Brazil. One species occurs on the west coast of North America.
Information contributed by: H.W. Johansen. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2017-01-20 by M.D. Guiry.
Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.
Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Kylin, H. (1956). Die Gattungen der Rhodophyceen. pp. i-xv, 1-673, 458 figs. Lund: C.W.K. Gleerups.
Comments: Arthrocardia appears most closely related to Corallina, especially in view of the pinnate branching in both genera. The ancestors of Arthrocardia probably diverged from Corallina with the evolution of branching systems of fertile intergenicula, which may be extensive in highly fertile fronds. The intergenicula of most species of Arthrocardia are larger than those in Corallina, and there may be as many as 40 tiers of medullary cells per intergeniculum, versus 20 or fewer in Corallina
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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=34485
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 20 January 2017. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 22 November 2024
