Nitella translucens (Persoon) C.Agardh 1824

Publication Details
Nitella translucens (Persoon) C.Agardh 1824: 124

Published in: Agardh, C.A. (1824). Systema algarum. pp. [i]-xxxvii, [1]-312. Lundae [Lund]: Literis Berlingianis [Berling].

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Publication date: probably September 1824

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 translucens Persoon

Type Information
Type locality: [No locality cited]; (Persoon 1807: 531) Neotype (designated by Abdelahad & Becker 2024: 913): Rev. E. Williams; 1800; LINN; HS1432-6-1 (Abdelahad & Becker 2024: 913) Notes: Neotype locality: "Eaton Pool, near Shrewsbury [England]"

General Environment
This is a freshwater species.

Description
This is a robust species with plants up to 40 cm high. The axis is up to 2 mm in diameter. The sterile branvhlets are only once divided and are seems therefore simple, but they have a terminal corona or crown. The fertile branchlets are 1-2 divided, they are short and formimng dense heads. The dactyls are 2-celled. The species is monoecious. The oogonia are 2-4 together and are up to 500 um long. The oospore is brown, and has prominent ridges and minutely reticulated mambrane. The antheridium is up to 400 um in diameter.

Habitat
Oligotrophic freshwater. Ecology similar to Nitella flexilis and Chara globularis.

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

Last updated: 01 May 2020

Verification of Data
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Taxonomic notes
Combination also proposed by Cosson & Germain de Saint-Pierre 1845 - (01 December 2014) - Salvador Valenzuela Miranda
incl N. brachyteles A. Br. (Muller et al., 2017). - (01 November 2017) - G.M. Guiry

Distributional note
"Nitella translucens is restricted to Europe and North Africa and was recorded in most European countries. The main distribution area is the Atlantic region of Western and Central Europe. In contrast, N. translucens is missing mainly in south-east Europe. Nitella translucens is well represented in Great Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and to a lesser account in Ireland, Scandinavia, the most Baltic countries, Poland, Spain, Portugal, few Balkan regions, Ukraine and Russia. In Germany Nitella translucens is restricted to the lowland areas of north-west Germany and to Saxony (Becker and Doege, 2016). Currently nine water bodies with occurrence of N. translucens are known from Saxony, 28 from Lower Saxony, 15 from Northrhine-Westfalia and two from Schleswig-Holstein (Becker and Doege, 2016; Raabe, 2017; Becker et al., 2022). In addition, a new record has been made for Rhineland-Palatinate (E. Korte pers. comm.). A recent population of Nitella translucens f. confervoides was recorded in 2005 in a temporary shallow pond in north-west Germany south-east of Barßel (Becker et al., 2022). Unfortunately, the population became extinct caused by a silting up of the waterbody but can probably be reactivated by desludging. In the British Isles and Ireland, N. translucens is widespread, occasional or locally frequent especially in northern and western parts, rare and restricted to acid habitats elsewhere (Moore, 1986; Bryant and Stewart, 2002, 2011)." (Abdelahad & Becker 2024). The species is widespread along the Atlantic coasts and in the central regions of France, Belgium and the Netherlands (Corillion, 1957; Bailly and Schaefer, 2010; Bruinsma et al., 2018). In Italy the species was recorded in the nineteenth century in ponds, ditches, swamps and slow-flowing waters. Sardinian specimens of N. translucens were recently collected in one ephemeral coastal pool in Sardinia (Becker, 2019) and were verified genetically (P. Nowak pers. comm.). Nitella translucens f. confervoides was recorded in 1860 in rice-fields of Piedmont (Erb. Critt. Ital. Serie I, N. 451, leg. Malinverni [Formiggini, 1908; Cuccuini, 1997]). Findings outside of Europe are documented only for the Maghreb countries in Northern Africa (Corillion, 1957; Cirujano et al., 2008; Muller et al., 2017)." (Abdelahad & Becker 2024). - (22 January 2025) - M.D. Guiry

Habitat note
freshwaters rich in organic matter, neutral to slightly acid, on siliceous substrate and at water depths of 0.3 to 3 m (Corllion, 1957); in undisturbed temporary ponds or semi-permanent lakes (Muller et al., 2017). - (01 November 2017) - G.M. Guiry

Conservational note
"Nitella translucens is threatened according to several national European Red Lists (overview in Becker, 2016: 162%u2013163). The species is Critically Endangered in Norway and in the Balkans (Bla%u017Een%u02C7ci´c et al., 2006; Sjøtun et al., 2010), Endan-gered in Germany (Korsch et al., 2013) Vulnerable in Sweden, and Near Threatened in Denmark (Båstrup-Spohr et al., 2013). Nitella translucens is Extinct in Poland (Urbaniak and G%u02DBabka, 2014). The species is probably Threatened in Italy where a Red List is not yet available." (Abdelahad & Becker 2024). - (22 January 2025) - M.D. Guiry

Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=35600

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 01 May 2020. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 28 March 2025

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