Ochtodes J.Agardh, 1872
Lectotype species: Ochtodes filiformis (J.Agardh) J.Agardh
Currently accepted name for the type species: Ochtodes secundiramea (Montagne) M.Howe
Original publication: Agardh, J.G. (1872). Bidrag till Florideernes systematik. Lunds Universitets Års-Skrift, Afdelningen for Mathematik och Naturvetenskap 8(6): 1-60.
Request PDFType designated in: Schmitz, F. (1889). Systematische Übersicht der bisher bekannten Gattungen der Florideen. Flora oder Allgemeine botanische Zeitung 72: 435-456, pl. XXI.
Description: Plants reach 17 cm in height, are erect from a discoid base, and consist of irregularly branched, cylindrical axes derived from 2 prominent helicoid apical cells, the torque of the spirally contorted apical cells gives rise to an internal, double helical biaxis which bears lateral branches which form the cylindrical thallus. Some of the terminal, surface cells of the lateral branches are the initials that divide simultaneously to form the raised patches of the thallus called nemathecial sori. All the reproductive structures develop within these sori. Cortical gland cells are present. Carpogonial branches are 3-4-celled, the basal cell being conspicuously enlarged, and 3-4-celled auxiliary cell branches are formed on separate nemathecial filaments in positions apparently homologous to carpogonial branches. The cell proximal to the elongated, basal cell of the auxiliary branch functions as the auxiliary cell. Following fertilization, all cells of the carpogonial branch fuse. An ephemeral connecting filament of broad and irregular outline issues in 1 or 2 lateral planes from the upper part of the fusion cell, or else a short bridge forms between the carpogonium and an immediately adjacent auxiliary cell. The genus thus been described as both procarpic and non-procarpic on the same thallus. Numerous gonimoblast initials and filaments arise thallus-outwardly from a prominent lateral protrusion on the auxlilary cell and develop thallus outwardly, the carposporophyte consisting of numerous lobes consisting almost entirely of carposporangia encased in a prominently protuberant pericarp. Fusion cells and fusions between gonimoblast and gametophyte tissue are lacking. Spermatangia and tetrasporangia are formed in nemathecial sori. Spermatangia were described by Joly & Ugadim (1966) on plants of O. secundiramea from Brazil. Tetrasporangia are 5.5-6.5 x 28-32 µm and regularly zonately divided in O. crockeri (Setchell & Gardner 1937) and 7.6 µm wide and 22.8 µm long and obliquely zonate to nearly cruciately divided in O. secundiramea (Joly & Ugadim 1966).
Information contributed by: G.T. Kraft, D.R. Wiseman & M.D. Guiry. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2011-11-04 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: The vegetative and reproductive structure of Ochtodes have been detailed by Wiseman (1976, 1977). The generitype is from Martinique, West Indies and is recorded from Brazil, whereas a second species, O. crockeri Setchell & N.L. Gardner, is from the Galapagos Islands. Specimens from the Pacific Coast of Panama have been tentatively identified as O. crockeri (Littler & Litter, pers. comm.
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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=42494
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 04 November 2011. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 25 November 2024
