Heringia J.Agardh, 1842
Lectotype species: Heringia mirabilis (C.Agardh) J.Agardh
Original publication: Agardh, J.G. (1842). Algae maris Mediterranei et Adriatici, observationes in diagnosin specierum et dispositionem generum. pp. [i]-x, 1-164. Parisiis [Paris]: Apud Fortin, Masson et Cie.
Request PDFType designated in: Agardh, J.G. (1852). Species genera et ordines algarum, seu descriptiones succinctae specierum, generum et ordinum, quibus algarum regnum constituitur. Volumis secundi: Algas florideas complectens. Part 2, fasc. 2. pp. 577-700 [701-720, Addenda and Index]. Lundae [Lund]: C.W.K. Gleerup.
Description: Plants reach 15 cm in length and occur either as epiphytes on Cladophora or in association with sponges. Searles (1968) explains that the specific epithet refers to what Agardh considered to be the miraculous metamorphosis that characterized this species as it turned from a green into a red alga. Plants grow from a discoid holdfast, the erect axes being dichotomous and either terete or slightly flattened. The central axial filament bears a single periaxial cell. Carpogonial branches are 3-celled, oriented outward, and borne within papillae that terminate fertile axes. Fertilization results in a single, relatively short connecting filament that fuses to an intercalary auxiliary cell, which cuts off several gonimoblasts toward the thallus surface. Chains of 2-4 carposporangia radiate from a narrow region of inner sterile tissue borne on an elaborate fusion cell. Spermatangia are borne terminally and either singly or in pairs on outer cortical mother cells. Plants are probably dioecious. Tetrasporangia are basally connected to outer cortical bearing cells and form in slight swellings near branch tips.
Information contributed by: G.T. Kraft. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2010-11-04 by M.D. Guiry.
Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.
Gender: This genus name is currently treated as feminine.
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: Distribution: The single species occurs both intertidally and subtidally in South Africa and South West Africa.
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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera,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=39900
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 04 November 2010. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 27 November 2024
