Gomphosphaeria Kützing, 1836
Holotype species: Gomphosphaeria aponina Kützing
Original publication and holotype designation: Kützing, F.T. (1836). Algarum aquae dulcis germanicarum Decas XVI. pp. [1-25]. Halis Saxonum [Halle]: in commissis C.A. Schwetschkii et fil..
Request PDFDescription: Unicellular-colonial; colonies microscopic, spherical or irregular, commonly composed of several daughter colonies, free-living (mainly in the metaphyton), usually enveloped by narrow, indistinct, fine and diffluent mucilage. A system of Å thick, pseudodichotomously branched and radially oriented stalks widened to the ends and enveloping the individual cells by a narrow layer of slime (sometimes visible only after staining) is developed within the colony; the stalk system is sometimes diffluent in the colonial center. Cells radially oriented, situated in the periphery of a colony, always elongated, obovate or club-shaped, after division remain and grow joined (by their longer sides) together for a long part of the cell cycle, forming the characteristic cordiform shape; solitary cells or "cordiform" stages are always slightly distant one from another with remarkable spaces between them, usually slightly radially shifted to one another. Cells pale blue-green, yellowish or pinkish, without aerotopes, sometimes with solitary granules, in colonies situated more or less peripherally and radially. Cell division in two directions in subsequent generations, perpendicular to each other and to the surface of the colony; the daughter cells remain after division joined together, forming the "cordiform" cells. Reproduction by the dissociation of colonies. The majority of species free-living in the metaphyton of the littoral of lakes and in swamps and pools, among other algae and aquatic plants (one in saline swamps), usually with limited areas of distribution. Three species are planktonic in Å clear lakes and ponds. Two species are exclusively tropical, the others are known predominantly from the temperate zone.
Information contributed by: J. Komárek. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2024-08-11 by E.A. Molinari Novoa.
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: Komárek, J. & Anagnostidis, K. (1999). Cyanoprokaryota. 1. Chroococcales. In: Süßwasserflora von Mitteleuropa. Begründet von A. Pascher. Band 19/1. (Ettl, H., Gärtner, G., Heynig, H. & Mollenhauer, D. Eds), pp. 1-548. Heidelberg & Berlin: Spektrum, Akademischer Verlag.
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=43070
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
E.A. Molinari Novoa in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 11 August 2024. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 21 November 2024
