Podosira Ehrenberg, 1840
Holotype species: Podosira moniliformis Ehrenberg
Currently accepted name for the type species: Podosira hormoides (Montagne) Kützing
Original publication and holotype designation: Ehrenberg, C.G. (1840). Erstlich über ausgezeichnete jetzt lebende peruanische und mexikanische Meeres-Infusorien, welche mit zur Erläuterung räthselhafter fossiler Formen der Kreidebildung dienen. Bericht über die zur Bekanntmachung geeigneten Verhandlungen der Königlich-Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1840: 157-162.
Description: Cells spherical to sub-spherical, single or united in pairs or rarely triplets. Approximately 12 irregularly discoid plastids. Benthic, attached by several thick polysaccharide stalks to seaweeds. Valves hemispherical or watch-glass-shaped; no distinct valve mantle; some species have a flat central area. Areolae loculate, arranged in decussate rows within radial sectors. Valve thick, the narrow loculi opening to the outside by pores that are often too small to be visible even with the SEM; to the inside the loculi open through what appear to be small open foramina but which in fact contain rotae. The edge of the valve is smooth. Rimoportulae are scattered over the whole of the valve. Their simple openings often provide the only markings on the outside; internally they are small oval structures without stalks. The rimoportulae replace areolae; their apertures are not aligned in any particular direction. Copulae numerous, narrow, with simple longitudinal slits. The valvocopula lacks slits and inserts against a shallow shelf on the valve edge.
The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2024-10-01 by G.M. 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: Silva, P.C. (1996). Taxonomic and nomenclatural status of Trochiscia Kützing and Trochiscia moniliformis Montagne. Cryptogamie Algologie 17: 69-75.
Comments: Characterisation of this genus and its relationship to Hyalodiscus needs further examination. For example, P. stelliger was removed from Hyalodiscus by A. Mann (1907) but its clear area of the valve face and well-marked areolae arranged in fascicles suggest it should be returned to its original genus. Bullulate (Hyalodiscus) and non-bullulate (Podosira) loculate systems may be valid differences between the genera.
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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=44440
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
G.M. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 01 October 2024. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 22 November 2024
