Nitella micklei Casanova

Casanova, Michelle T. & Karol, Kenneth G., 2023, Charophytes of Australia’s Northern Territory - II. Tribe Nitelleae, Australian Systematic Botany 36 (4), pp. 322-353 : 340

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.1071/SB22029

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11148854

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/A70387E4-943B-2751-7EC1-2F6A4C0BFBE8

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Nitella micklei Casanova
status

 

Nitella micklei Casanova in M. T.Casanova & J. L.Porter, Muelleria 31: 55 (2013)

Type: WESTERN AUSTRALIA. Mulga Downs Outcamp Claypan , 17 Aug. 2006, M. T. Casanova PBS17 About PBS : r114 (holo: MEL!).

Dioecious. Plants sometimes calcified, homeoclemous, up to 90 mm tall, internodes up to 35 mm long ( Fig. 10 a View Fig ). Axes stout, up to 650 µm in diameter. Fertile branchlets 5 or 6 in a whorl, up to 2 mm long, 1–22×furcate ( Fig. 10 b, d, e View Fig ). Primary segments up to 1.5 mm long, 2 or 3 secondary segments to 1.2 mm long; rarely 2 or 3 tertiary segments up to 0.5 mm long. Sterile branchlets 5 or 6 in a whorl, up to 18 mm in total, 1(–2)×furcate; primary segments up to 6 mm long; 2 or 3 secondary segments, up to 2 mm long; rarely 2 or 3 tertiary segments, up to 2 mm long ( Fig. 10 c View Fig ). Dactyl cells swollen or inflated 1–2 mm long, 0.5–1 mm wide, sometimes narrowing distally to be confluent with the mucronate end-cell. End-cell 75 µm long × 30–40 µm wide at the base ( Fig. 10 f View Fig ). Fertile dactyls as for sterile; individual segments can be less inflated on male plants. Gametangia on separate plants ( Fig. 10 d, f View Fig ). Oosporangia up to 230 µm long, 190 µm wide; coronula up to 18 µm high, 6 or 7 helical stripes ( Fig. 10 g View Fig ). Oospores 200 µm long × 170 µm wide with 6 or 7 striae of thick ridges; the striae uniting in a small apical crest ( Fig. 10 h View Fig ). Oospore membrane shallowly reticulate with (0–)1–2 smooth meshes across the fossa ( Fig. 10 i View Fig ). Antheridia up to 450–470 µm in diameter. Chromosome numbers n = 9.

Recognition

A low growing but distinctive shrubby species with somewhat inflated bicellulate dactyls and robust axes, not at all slender. The oospores are distinctively patterned. Nitella tumida Nordst. , which has not yet been found in the Northern Territory, has much more inflated, even spherical dactyls, and slender axes.

Distribution

Northern, arid zone, temporary, usually turbid, claypans and dams.

Etymology

Named for David Mickle who has collected charophytes in the Pilbara.

Specimens examined

WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Koodjeepindawarranna Pool , 19 Aug. 2006, M. T. Casanova t254 ( MEL); Gnalka Gnoona, 19 Aug. 2006, M. T. Casanova t256 ( MEL). Fortescue River at Millstream ( Palm Pool ), 21 Aug. 2006, M. T. Casanova t258 ( MEL); Ethel Creek Claypan, 1 Aug. 2004, D. A. Mickle & M. N . Lyons 3073 ( PERTH); Cooliarin Pool T1 , 18 May 2004, M. N. Lyons & D. A . Mickle 3063 ( PERTH) . NORTHERN TERRITORY: Jimmy Dam , 23 km ESE Erldunda Homestead, 26 June 2000, P. K. Latz 16363 (DNA) .

M

Botanische Staatssammlung München

T

Tavera, Department of Geology and Geophysics

J

University of the Witwatersrand

L

Nationaal Herbarium Nederland, Leiden University branch

MEL

Museo Entomologico de Leon

A

Harvard University - Arnold Arboretum

N

Nanjing University

PERTH

Western Australian Herbarium

P

Museum National d' Histoire Naturelle, Paris (MNHN) - Vascular Plants

K

Royal Botanic Gardens

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Charophyta

Class

Charophyceae

Order

Charales

Family

Characeae

Genus

Nitella

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