Nitella elegans B. P. Pal (1932: 73)

Borges, Fabio Renato & Jr, Orlando Necchi, 2018, Taxonomy and phylogeny of Nitella (Charophyceae, Characeae) from Brazil with emphasis on the midwest and southeast regions, Phytotaxa 356 (3), pp. 181-198 : 190-191

Nitella elegans B. P. Pal (1932: 73)

Figs: 17–22.

Plants monoecious, up to 29 cm high, without calcium carbonate deposition, but with or without mucous. Axes 57–385 μm in diameter, internodes 0.21–2.3 cm long, 0.6–4.5 (mean 1.75) times as long as the branchlets. Branchlets sterile and fertile similar or the sterile larger and somewhat less furcate; sterile (5–)7–8(–9) in a whorl, 0.3–2.3 cm long, 3–4(5) furcated; primaries rays (5–)7–8(–9), 0.14–1.10 cm long, 55–240 μm in diameter; secondaries rays (4–)6–8(– 10), 0.06–0.60 cm long, 33–152 μm in diameter, with or without central ray; tertiaries rays (3–)5–7, 0.02–0.37 cm long, 28–127 μm in diameter, whit or without central ray; quaternaries (2–)4–6(–8), 0.04–0.24 cm long, 28–109 μm in diameter; quinaries rare. Dactyls (1)2–4(5), 2(–4) celled, commonly abbreviated, 0.01–0.25 cm long, 21–117 μm in diameter, penultimate cell cylindrical tapering distally to base of end cell; end cell conical, acuminate, mucronate. Heads lacking but upper whorls often smaller and somewhat compacted. Gametangia solitary or conjoined at 2 nd –3 rd (–4 th) branchlets nodes with or without mucus. Oogonia 1 at a node, 141–508 μm long (excl. nucula), 109–397 μm in wide; convolutions (5)6–7(8); coronula 27–41 μm high, 43–63 μm wide at base, upper cells normally higher than basal cells; coronular cells convergent, persistent. Oospores light brown to black, 244–301 μm long, 229–268 μm wide; striae 6–7; fossa 40–71 μm across; membrane granulate under LM and finely granulate under SEM. Antheridia solitary, 99–176 μm in diameter, 8 scutate.

Specimen examined:— BRAZIL. Goiás: BR 070, between the Municipalities of Aragarças and Jussara, elev. 339m, 15°51’26.3”S, 51°36’9.5”W, 15 April 2015, coll. F. R. Borges (SJRP32571). Mato Grosso: District of Primaverinha, BR163, between the Municipalities of Sorriso and Lucas do Rio Verde, 12°50’43.2’’S, 55°49’32.6’’W, 11 May 2014, coll. F. R. Borges (SJRP32548). São Paulo: Pond of Ninféias, State Park, Municipality of São Paulo, 23°38’19.40”S, 46°37’19.18”W, 12 September 2014, coll. D. F. Peralta (SJRP32567).

DNA sequences: rbc L- MG004801, MG004800, MG004799; ITS1- MG029150, MG029148; ITS2- MG029150, MG029148, MG029149.

Nitella elegans is here reported for the first time in Brazil.