Leptosira Borzì, 1883
Holotype species: Leptosira mediciana Borzì
Original publication and holotype designation: Borzì, A. (1883). Studi algologici. Saggio di richerche sulla biologia delle Alghe. Fascicolo I. pp. [i]-vi, [i, h.t.], [i]-i 117, [i, cont.], errata slip, IX pls., uncol. liths. by author. Messina: Gaetano Capra e Co. Editori.
Request PDFDescription: Plants forming small cushion-like tufts of uniseriate filaments. Plants irregularly branched with very short laterals. Cells uninucleate, globose, with parietal chloroplast and starch; pyrenoids absent. Reproduction by zoospores, isogametes and aplanospores. Swarmers biflagellate, released in small vesicle, 20 to 60 produced in each cell. Leptosira epiphytic, collected or isolated from aquatic habitats. Some uncertainty surrounds the validity of this genus that very closely resembles Pleurastrum but differs from it in the absence of a pyrenoid. The description of the type species makes no mention pyrenoids but the illustration accompanying it clearly depicts an area in each vegetative cell that some authorities have taken to be a pyrenoid. Pyrenoids were not detected in an investigation of an alga reported growing on Coleochaete and believed to be L. mediciana. A chemotaxonomic study involving pyrolysis-gas-liquid chromatography led to the suggestion to transfer to Leptosira of all the recognised species of Pleurastrum. These transfers were not validly proposed and the possession or otherwise of a pyrenoid still appears to be a useful character for separating the two genera. Reanalysis of the pyrolysis data using cluster analysis did not confirm the proposed synonymy. Doubt attaches to the placement of Leptosiropsis under this genus due to its possession of a pyrenoid that encircles the nucleus with plastid membranes appressed to it, with no traversing thyllakoids present. If pyrenoid structure is conservative at the generic level then Leptosiropsis should be regarded as a separate genus.
Information contributed by: D.M. John. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2024-04-22 by M.D. Guiry.
Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.
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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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=43364
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 22 April 2024. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 22 November 2024
