Nitella flagellifera J. Groves & G. O. Allen (1927: 337)

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 : 191-192

Nitella flagellifera J. Groves & G. O. Allen (1927: 337)

Figs: 23–28.

Plants monoecious, up to 18.5 cm high, without calcium carbonate deposition.Axes 129–581μm in diameter, internodes 0.06–3.9 cm long, 0.12–5.2 (mean 1.0) times as long as the branchlets. Branchlets (4)5–6(7) in a whorl, 0,25–2,3cm long, 2–3(4) furcated; primaries rays (4)5–6(7), 0.08–1.5cm long, 113–453 μm in diameter; secondaries rays 3–6, 0.04– 0.6cm long, 75–328 μm in diameter, with or without central ray; tertiaries rays 2–4(5), 0.03–0.4cm long, 57–240 μm in diameter, with or without central ray; quaternaries rays 3, 0.08–0.25cm long, 80–129 μm in diameter. Dactyls 2–3(4), 2(3) celled, elongated or less often abbreviated, 0.01–0.72 cm long, 42–226 μm in diameter, penultimate cell rounded at distal end; end cell conical, acuminate or mucronate. Heads lacking, but axillary and terminal compacted branchlets are frequent (1 per axial node, small or medium size, inverted cone-shaped). Gametangia sejoined or conjoined at 1 st (rare), 2 nd and 3 rd nodes; without mucus. Oogonia 1(2) at a node, 166–510 μm long (excl. nucula), 167–443 μm in wide; convolutions (5)6–7(8); coronula 26–47 μm high, 52–90 μm wide at base, upper cells normally higher than basals, coronular cells convergent,persistent. Oospores light brown, 253–348 μm long, 226–303 μm wide; striae (5)6–7; fossa 38–71 μm across; membrane reticulate under LM and beaded imperfect reticulate to reticulate under SEM. Antheridia solitary, 88–305 μm in diameter, 8 scutate.

Specimen examined:— BRAZIL. Goiás: District of Placa, Municipality of Pirenópolis, elev. 708m, 15°42’20.7”S,

49°03’40.7”W, 5 September 2009, coll. O. Necchi Jr. (SJRP32545). BR 070, between the municipalities of Aragarças and Jussara, elev. 315m, 15°55’4.0”S, 52°00’6.8”W, 15 April 2015, coll. F. R. Borges (SJRP32569). Mato Grosso do Sul: BR163, between the Municipalities of Sonora and Coxim, 17°54’40.5’’S, 54°41’24.1’’W, 12 May 2014, coll. F.R. Borges (SJRP32551). Minas Gerais: MG167, between the municipalities of Três Pontas and Varginha, elev. 777m, 21°27’38.8’’S, 45°30’55.8’’W, 1 October 2015, coll. F.R. Borges (SJRP32574). São Paulo: Municipality Potirendaba, elev. 446m, 21°01’48.9’’S, 49°23’07.5’’W, 3 October 2014, colls. F.R. Borges & O. Necchi Jr. (SJRP31518). Municipality of Potirendaba, elev. 443m, 21°00’40.1’’S, 49°24’40.7’’W, 3 october 2014, colls. F.R. Borges & O. Necchi Jr. (SJRP32530). Borá stream, José Domingues Neto Avenue, Municipality of Cedral, elev. 480m, 20°57’03.2’’S, 49°20’58.8’’W, 13August 2002, coll. unknown (SJRP32546). Borá stream, José Domingues Neto Avenue, Municipality of Cedral, elev. 480m, 20°57’03.2’’S, 49°20’58.8’’W, 13 July 2002, coll. unknown (SJRP32547).

DNA sequences: rbc L- MG004804, MG004807, MG004805, MG010431, MG004808, MG004803, MG004802, MG004806; ITS1- MG029145, MG029142, MG029144, MG029143; ITS2- MG029145, MG029142, MG029144, MG029143.