Selenastrum Reinsch, 1866
Holotype species: Selenastrum bibraianum Reinsch
Original publication: Reinsch, P.F. (1866). Die Algenflora des mittleren Theiles von Franken (des Keupergebietes mit den angrenzenden Partien des jurassischen Gebietes) enthaltend die vom Autor bis jetzt in diesen Gebieten beobachteten Susswasseralgen und die Diagnosen und Abbildungen von ein und funfzig vom Autor in diesem gebiete entdeckten neuen Arten und drei neuen Gattungen. Abhandlungen der Naturhistorischen Gesellschaft zu Nürnberg 3(2): 1-238, 13 plates.
Request PDFType designated in: Kusber, W.-H., da Silva, T.G., Bock, C., Krienitz, L. & Guiry, M.D. (2021). Revised treatment of Reinsch’s Selenastrum taxa and Messastrum (Chlorophyta) with remarks on their original material and molecularly analysed reference strains. Notulae Algarum 218: 1-5, 1 fig..
Description: Cells rarely solitary, mostly in few to many celled colonies with 4-16 cells. Spherical to amorphous and structureless, mucilaginous envelopes present or absent. Cells dispersed in matrix though forming cluster of cells attached by dorsal sides, in older colonies cells often becoming detached. Cells strongly curved and often slightly sigmoid, lunate to subcircular with pointed tips; 7-42 x 1.5-8 µm. Cell walls smooth. Cells uninucleate; single chloroplast parietal and band shaped; pyrenoids mostly appear absent (except A. bibraianum). Ultrastructurally, pyrenoids may be present in species where they can not be visualized using light microscopy (e.g., S. gracile). Asexual reproduction by autospore formation and colony fragmentation; 2-4-8 (-16) spores per sporangium. Spores formed in parallel in bundles that remain more or less distinct after release. Spore release by transverse tear in central part of sporangial wall; wall fragments discarded or dissolving. Flagellated stages and sexual reproduction unknown.
Information contributed by: D. Garbary & F. Hindák. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2021-11-22 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 neuter.
Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Tsarenko, P.M. (2011). Chlorococcales. In: Algae of Ukraine: diversity, nomenclature, taxonomy, ecology and geography. Volume 3: Chlorophyta. (Tsarenko, P.M., Wasser, S.P. & Nevo, E. Eds), pp. 232-264. Ruggell: A.R.A. Gantner Verlag K.-G..
Comments: Selenastrum planktonic and cosmopolitan in freshwater lakes ponds and rivers. Most species in temperate to warm temperate waters. In culture cells can grow on agar where they become polymorphic.
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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=43450
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 22 November 2021. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 22 November 2024
