Meristiella D.P.Cheney, 1987

Holotype species: Meristiella gelidium (J.Agardh) D.P.Cheney & P.W.Gabrielson

Original publication: Gabrielson, P.W. & Cheney, D.P. (1987). Morphology and taxonomy of Meristiella gen nov. (Solieriaceae, Rhodophyta). Journal of Phycology 23: 481-493.

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Description: Plants reach 30 cm in length, are erect, often in clusters, from discoid bases, and are terete to flattened and suboppositely to alternately branched. Fronds are multiaxial, the cells of each axial filament bearing a single periaxial cell with successive periaxials rotated around the axial file. The medulla is broad and loosely filamentous. Carpogonial branches are 3-celled and give rise to 1 or 2 unbranched connecting filaments on fertilization. Auxiliary cells are intercalary in cortical filaments whose cells are specially staining and enlarged prior to diploidization (forming an “auxiliary cell complex"). Carposporophytes consist of a central placenta of mixed gonimoblast and gametophytic cells surrounded by radiating gonimoblasts bearing single terminal carposporangia. Pericarps are ostiolate, lined internally by a filamentous hull, and bear varying numbers of spines externally. Spermatangia are unknown. Tetrasporangia are laterally attached to outer cortical bearing cells.

Information kindly contributed by G.T. Kraft but may now be outdated.

Taxonomic status: This name is currently regarded as a synonym of .

Comments: Gabrielson and Cheney (1987) contrast Merisetiella with Meristotheca, which differs in having nemathecial reproductive structures, lacking an auxiliary-cell complex, and having cystocarps unadorned with spines. They place the genus in the tribe Agardhiellieae.

Distribution: The type species occurs in the Caribbean Sea from southern Florida to Venezuela. A second species, M. schrammii (P. and H. Crouan) Cheney and Gabrielson, is also endemic to the Caribbean Sea, whereas M. echinocarpa (Areschoug) Cheney and Gabrielson is recorded from Brazil as well as the Caribbean.

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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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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=42496

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
Craig Schneider in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 26 April 2017. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 04 December 2024

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