Desmococcus F.Brand, 1925

Holotype species: Desmococcus vulgaris F.Brand

Currently accepted name for the type species: Desmococcus olivaceus (Persoon ex Acharius) J.R.Laundon

Original publication and holotype designation: Brand, F. & Stockmayer, S. (1925). Analyse der aerophilen Grünalgenanflüge, insbesondere der proto- pleurococcoiden Formen. Archiv für Protistenkunde 52: 265-355, plate 11.

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Description: Plants consisting of globular cells, often forming sarcinoid packets by division in three planes, occasionally as short, uniseriate, filaments. Cells uninucleate, each with single, parietal chloroplast and pyrenoid. Asexual reproduction by aplanospores produced in large, spherical sporangia with a verrucose or punctate surface. Sexual reproduction unknown. Desmococcus cosmopolitan on soil-free subaerial surfaces including walls and bark of trees especially in both shaded and polluted habitats where lichens are uncommon. Probably the most common alga forming the so-called "proto-pleurococcoid" assemblage. In the past considerable taxonomic confusion has surrounded this genus and others closely related to it (e.g. Apatococcus, Chlorococcum, Pleurococcus, Protococcus).

Information contributed by: D.M. John. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2024-08-22 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 masculine.

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Tsarenko, P.M. (2011). Trebouxiophyceae. In: Algae of Ukraine: diversity, nomenclature, taxonomy, ecology and geography. Volume 3: Chlorophyta. (Tsarenko, P.M., Wasser, S.P. & Nevo, E. Eds), pp. 61-108. Ruggell: A.R.A. Gantner Verlag K.-G..

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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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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=43358

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 22 August 2024. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 27 November 2024