Phycopeltis Millardet, 1870
Holotype species: Phycopeltis epiphyton Millardet
Original publication and holotype designation: Millardet, M.A. (1870). De la germination des zygospores dans les genres Closterium et Staurastrum et sur un genre nouveau d'algues chlorosporées. Mémoires de la Société des Sciences Naturelles de Strasbourg 6: 37-51, 1 pl.
Request PDFDescription: Thallus consisting of a single-layered disc formed by coalescence of radiating, laterally appressed dichotomous filaments. The shape of the disc ranges from perfectly circular to very lobed and irregular; in some species the disc has an open branched habit, due to the development of separate systems of branched filaments called ramuli (ramulate forms). Gametangia intercalary or terminal, deriving from transformation of vegetative cells whose contents divide producing gametes. Gametangial cells may conserve the original size and shape, or become considerably swollen. When mature, the gametes are released through an ostiole formed on the dorsal side of the gametangium. Sporangiate laterals solitary, sessile on the surface of the disc or borne at the top of a sporangiophore. In the zoosporangium, the ostiole is opposite to the end of attachment. The life history is believed to consist of an alternation of two generations with identical morphology, a haploid gametophyte reproducing sexually by gametes, and a diploid sporophyte reproducing asexually by zoospores. In some species gametangia and zoosporangia occur on separate thalli. In other species gametangia and zoosporangia may be found on the same thalli; in such cases, it is presumed that these specimens are gametophytes able to reproduce asexually. In some species sterile hairs or glandular papillae are produced on the surface of the thallus. Species of Phycopeltis are usually epiphytic on leaves, stems or other parts of vascular plants; less frequently they occur on inanimate substrata, such as rocks, metal and plastic surfaces.
Information contributed by: Skaloud et al. (2018: 219).. 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.
Gender: This genus name is currently treated as feminine.
Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Škaloud, P., Rindi, F., Boedeker, C. & Leliaert, F. (2018). Süßwasserflora von Mitteleuropa. Freshwater flora of central Europe: Chlorophyta V: Ulvophyceae. Vol. 13 pp. [i]-vii, [1]-288, 182 figures. Berlin: Springer Spektrum.
Comments: Circumtropical and subtropical, with few species in temperate regions. Thalli generally noninvasive, supracuticular epiphytes of leaves, fruits and stems of vascular plants, but also reported from nonliving substrates. As in related genera Cephaleuros and Trentepohlia, Phycopeltis is often lichenized.
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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=43520
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 26 November 2024
