Home / Rhodophyceae / Microreds / Chroodactylon
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Name derivation:
Chroodactylon -- chroos (Gr.): color, skin + daktylos: digit, finger ornatum (L.): decorated, equipped, or adorned Formerly called Asterocystis ramosa and A. ornata "Star cell" -- Star Astero- cell –cystis Synonym Asterocystis
Classification:
Chroodactylon Hansgirg, 1885; There are 4 species of which 2 have been taxonomically accepted (Guiry and Guiry 2013). Order Stylonematales; Family Stylonemataceae
Morphology:
Uniseriate filaments with simple, irregular, or pseudodichotomous branching, and attached by a basal cell. Cells are irregularly spaced in a matrix. Each cell has a stellate plastid with a central pyrenoid. Asexual reproduction by monospores and akinetes formed from vegetative cells.
Similar genera:
Stylonema
Habitat:
In the Northwest Atlantic a common, but inconspicuous, epiphytic alga on eelgrass (Zostera marina) in estuarine, sheltered marshy sites. Found in the mid littoral and shallow sublittoral zones.
References:
Hansgirg, A. 1885. Ein Beitrag zur Kenntniss von der Verbreitung der Chromatophoren und Zellkernen bei den Schizophyceen (Phycochromaceen). Berichte der deutsche botanischen Gesellschaft 3: 14-22. Guiry, M.D. and G.M. Guiry 2013. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 19 September 2013. Taylor, W. R. 1957. Marine Algae of the Northeastern Coast of North America. Revised Edition. Univ. Michigan Press., Ann Arbor, ix + 509 pp. (as Asterocytis ramosa)