Blennothrix Kützing ex Anagnostidis & Komárek, 1988

Holotype species: Blennothrix vermicularis Kützing ex Anagnostidis & Komárek

Original publication and holotype designation: Anagnostidis, K. & Komárek, J. (1988). Modern approach to the classification system of cyanophytes. 3. Oscillatoriales. Archiv für Hydrobiologie, Supplement 80(1-4): 327-472, 35 figs, 13 tables.

Description: Filaments solitary or in fascicle-like colonies or mats (microscopic to macroscopic): from (1)2 to several trichomes within the firm or more or less mucilaginous, usually slightly widened, colorless sometimes slightly lengthwise (rarely also crosswise) lamellated, or outer diffluent sheaths, open at the apex; filaments (not trichomes), isopolar or more or less polarized, sometimes specifically branched, but without typical tolypotrichoid or scytonematoid false branching (only sheaths branched never trichomes). Trichomes 8-30 _m wide, long, uniseriate, more or less flexuous or waved, isopolar, composed of short cylindrical cells, slightly constricted or unconstricted at the crosswalls, not attenuated towards ends. Cells several times shorter than wide (discoid), without aerotopes, usually with fine granulation; end cells widely rounded, sometimes with a narrow calyptra. Heterocytes and akinetes absent. Cell division transverse, perpendicular to trichome axis, in rapid sequence. Reproduction by differently long, usually short, motile hormogonia, which separate from the trichome by help of dead cells and liberate later from sheaths; separation of hormogonia, which remain within sheaths, causes the development of polytrichal filaments and a special type of false branching. Entire trichomes sometimes dissociate into hormogonia or single cells. Only in aquatic habitats. Five species known from the marine littoral or from saline swamps, growing mainly on macroscopic algae or among organic detritus. Eight species grow in clear, usually cold springs and creeks (rarely in stagnant water) in mountains, mainly on mosses or submerged plants, rarely on stony substrates (usually in temperate zones in geographically distant localities); one species from a mountain creek in Puerto Rico; few species from high mountains of central and southeast Asia; one from streams in Antarctica.

Information contributed by: J. Komárek. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2023-03-03 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: Strunecký, O., Ivanova, A.P. & Mares, J. (2022 '2023'). An updated classification of cyanobacterial orders and families based on phylogenomic and polyphasic analysis (Review). Journal of Phycology 59(1): 12-51.

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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=43082

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 03 March 2023. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 22 November 2024