Galdieria Merola, 1982

Holotype species: Galdieria sulphuraria (Galdieri) Merola

Original publication and holotype designation: Merola, A., Castaldo, R., DeLuca, P., Gambardella, R., Musacchio, A. & Taddei, R. (1982 '1981'). Revision of Cyanidium caldarium. Three species of acidophilic algae. Giornale Botanico Italiano 115: 189-195.

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Description: Spherical unicells, sometimes united in a common mucilaginous matrix, 3-11 µm in diameter and containing a blue-green parietal, multi-lobed chloroplast which contains no pyrenoid. Contains chlorophyll a and C-phycocyanin in a chloroplast bounded by a putative single membrane. Each cell has one nucleus but, unlike other members of the class, several mitochondria and vacuolar system. Produces floridoside and iso-floridoside, confirming its status as a red alga. Storage product floridean starch. Sexual reproduction not reported.

Information contributed by: R.G. Sheath. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2023-04-26 by G.M. Guiry.

Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Yoon, H.S., Nelson, W., Lindstrom, S.C., Boo, S.M., Pueschel, C., Qiu, H. & Bhattacharya, D. (2017). Rhodophyta. In: Handbook of the Protists. (Archibald, J.M., Simpson, A.G.B. & Slamovits, C.H. Eds), pp. 89-133. Cham: Springer International Publishing AG.

Comments: In acidic thermal springs in Naples, Italy, Mt. Lawu, Indonesia, Yellowstone National Park, U.S.A. and Los Azufres and Cerro Prieto, Mexico. Survives temperatures up to 56%C and extreme acidity down to 1.5. Included in Cyanidiophyceae by Merola and others (1981) because of unique chloroplast envelope; considered to be the most advanced genus in this class.

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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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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=42894

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
G.M. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 26 April 2023. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 25 November 2024