Polyzonia Suhr, 1834
Holotype species: Polyzonia elegans Suhr
Original publication and holotype designation: Suhr, J.N. von (1834). Übersicht der Algen, welche von Hrn. Ecklon an der südafrikanischen Küste gefunden worden sind. Flora 17(46, 47): 721-735, 737-743, pls I, II (figs. 1-21).
Request PDFDescription: Dorsiventral, polysiphonous thalli, with 6 pericentral cells, growing as mostly prostrate epiphytes. Apex of axes dorsally bent or circinate. Proximal regions of thalli attached on ventral side by multicellular holdfasts in irregular positions; rhizoids arising from ventral pericentral cells or keel cells of 1-7 adjacent segments, each rhizoid forming small distal cells. Ventral cells of axis forming a discontinuous broad keel; axis becoming corticated. Determinate branchlets exogenously produced on alternate segments of indeterminate axes; dorsally directed and ~16 segments long; 3 determinate secondary laterals formed on primary determinate branchlet and congenital fusion occurs between the secondary and primary branchlets; a leaf-like monostromatic branchlet, with 4 teeth is the final form of determinate branchlets. Indeterminate branches endogenously formed every 6th segment on axis always distal to a determinate branchlet on the same side of the axis; most remain dormant for long periods of time. Juvenile plants are erect and flattened, bilaterally symmetrical determinate axes, 10-14 segments long, that endogenously produce a single indeterminate prostrate lateral branch from the most proximal polysiphonous segment. Gametophyte reproduction relatively unknown; cystocarp proximal, on flattened surface of determinate branchlet. Tetrasporangia in distal segments of main and secondary indeterminate branches. A single fertile pericentral cell per segment, dorsal, forming a longitudinal series. Three original cover cells divide several times resulting in an extensive monostromatic covering over the sporangia.
Information contributed by: R.E. Norris. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2010-10-07 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: 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: Type species from South Africa; a second species recorded from the Caribbean but needing verification (Wynne 1986).
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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=42671
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 07 October 2010. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 22 November 2024
