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Name derivation:

 

 

Classification:

Phycopeltis  Millardet  1870;  24 of 36 species descriptions are currently accepted taxonomically (Guiry and Guiry 2013).

Order Trentepohliales;  Family Trentepohliaceae

Morphology:

Dichotomously branched filaments forming openly-branched to pseudoparen-chymatously discoidal thalli up to 7 mm diameter. Often golden-brown, orange or orange-red (from cytoplasmic accumulations of carotenoids and other lipids).  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. (Guiry and Guiry 2013).

Similar genera:

Cephaleuros and Trentepohlia

 

Habitat:

Terrestrial, epiphytic on leaves, fruits and stems of vascular plants as well as nonliving substrates (Guiry and Guiry).

References:

Guiry, M.D. and G.M. Guiry  2013.  AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway.  http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 07 May 2013.

Millardet, M.A.  1870.  De la germination des zygospores dans les genres Closterium et sur un genre nouveau d'algues chlorosporées.  Mémoires de la Société des Sciences Naturelles de Strasbourg 6: 37-51, 1 pl.