Nitella capillaris (Krocker) J.Groves & Bullock-Webster 1920

Current name: Nitella capillaris (Krocker) J.Groves & Bullock-Webster
Antheridia. Collected by Juliet Hawkins, verified Nick Stewart. NE Suffolk, UK. - 20 May 2019. C.F.Carter (chris.carter@6cvw.freeuk.com)

Publication Details
Nitella capillaris (Krocker) J.Groves & Bullock-Webster 1920: 96

Published in: Groves, J. & Bullock-Webster, G.R. (1920). The British Charophyta. Volume I. Nitelleae with introduction plates and text-figures. pp. [i]-xiv, [1]-141, 20 pls. London: printed for the The Ray Society.

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Type Species
The type species (lectotype) of the genus Nitella is Nitella opaca (C.Agardh ex Bruzelius) C.Agardh.

Status of Name
This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.

Basionym
Chara capillaris Krocker

Type Information
Type locality: "Raram hanc plantam ante multos annos in fossis, ac lacubus penes fluvium Ole ad prata Marienau, et Pirscham inveni, ex post etiam alibi, sed rarius." [Poland] ; (Krocker 1814: 63) Neotype (The washes, Sutton, Cambridgeshire [England]; designated by Wood in Wood & Imahori 1965: 419): A. Fryer and H. & J. G.[roves]; 25th, Mai. 1885; In an old fen ditch; NY; 01090196 (Wood & Imahori 1965: 419)

Origin of Species Name
Adjective (Latin), capillary, hair-like, thread-like (Stearn 1983).

General Environment
This is a freshwater species.

Description
This is a slender species up to 20 cm in height. The axis is less than 1 mm in diameter. The branchlets are divided once and have 1-celled end segments (dactyls). It is a dioecious species with the gametangia enveloped in mucus, and in numerous small heads. The oogonia are 2-3 together, and up to 500 m long. The oospores are brown (300  400 m long) and have prominent ridges. The antheridia are solitary, and are up to 600 m in diameter. The species is similar to Nitella opaca, which however lack mucus around the gametangia.

Habitat
Nitella capillaris is found in small pools and in ditches, both in soft and alkaline water. The oospores germinate in autumn, and the plants are fertile the next spring (from April). Ripe oospores are found in June and July. The plants die shortly after this. N. capillaris is opportunistic as it comes and goes, a phenomena reported by Olsen (1944) who writes: In the locality in the Furesøpark, where I had an opportunity of observing it both in 1937 and in 1938, I did not find it later, in spite of repeated search. Distribution:

Key Characteristics
Dioecious. Gametangia in mucus. Oosopre brown with prominent ridges

Similar Species
Nitella opaca

Created: 11 April 2002 by M.D. Guiry.

Last updated: 20 January 2025

Verification of Data
Users are responsible for verifying the accuracy of information before use, as noted on the website Content page.

Distributional note
Thought to be extinct in the British Isles (see Bryant & Stewart, 2002: 609; Bryant & Stewart 2011: 762). "Nitella capillaris is not rare in Europe. It can be found from the south of Sweden into north Africa and from Portugal into Ukraine. Figure 57.3 with the distribution of Nitella capillaris in Europe is made by Heiko Korsch. There are many locations in Sweden, Germany, Poland and northern Italy where this species was last seen before 1950. It recently reappeared in Britain." (Nat 2024). - (11 May 2006) - G.M. Guiry

Habitat note
Prefers shallow waterbodies, on acid or slightly alkaline substrate, associated with spermatophytes (Muller et al., 2017). - (06 November 2017) - G.M. Guiry

Conservational note
Sweden: DD (Gärdenfors 2005). The species has not been found in the area since 1938, but can have been over-looked as it is a spring species. Therefore there is still a chance to find it in the area. Proposed red list status for the whole area is DD (data deficient). "The status of Nitella capillaris is assessed as "Vulnerable" or "Endangered" in most national Red Lists in Europe. It is threatened especially in small waterbodies that are not cleaned or excavated regularly. Populations in deeper water seem relatively stable. Deferred maintenance of ditches, pools and fens can be seen as a threat to the occurrence of Nitella capillaris in its entire area. During early spring this species can be found in small waterbodies. In that period only a few people are looking for charophytes. For this reason the distribution status of N. capillaris might be unrealistic." (Nat 2024). - (09 January 2012) - M.D. Guiry

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Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 20 January 2025. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 05 April 2025