Sphaeranthera Heydrich, 1900

Holotype species: Sphaeranthera decussata (Foslie) Heydrich

Original publication and holotype designation: Heydrich, F. (1900). Weitere Ausbau des Corallineensystems. Berichte der deutsche botanischen Gesellschaft 18: 310-317.

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Description: No generic description is provided as the status of this genus in currently uncertain.

Information kindly contributed by Wm. J. Woelkerling but may now be outdated.

Taxonomic status: The taxonomic or nomenclatural status (or both) of this entity is in some way unresolved and requires further investigation.

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Kylin, H. (1956). Die Gattungen der Rhodophyceen. pp. i-xv, 1-673, 458 figs. Lund: C.W.K. Gleerups.

Comments: Woelkerling (1988: 219) provided background information on the name Sphaeranthera and concluded that the status and disposition of the genus required further evaluation. This has yet to be done.

Uncertainty surrounds the status and disposition of the genus because a lectotype specimen has yet to be designated for S. decussata (Foslie) Heydrich. Both Foslie (1895) and Heydrich (1900) based the name on the account of Solms-Laubach (1881), who used specimens from several localities in the Golf von Neapel. Those specimens need to be re-examined in a modern context and a lectotype selected in order to determine whether Sphaeranthera constitutes a distinct genus or is a heterotypic synonym of an earlier described genus. It is clear from the account of Solms-Laubach (1881), however, that his specimens had multiporate tetrasporangial conceptacles with roofs composed of cells, and this means that the name Sphaeranthera is associated with the Hapalidiaceae, subfamily Melobesioideae within the Order Corallinales (Rhodophyta).

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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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

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Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 20 July 2009. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 22 November 2024