Chara globularis Thuill., Fl. Env. Paris

• Main Authors: Casanova, Michelle T., Karol, Kenneth G.
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Zenodo 2023
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Taxonomy; Plantae; Charophyta; Charophyceae; Charales; Characeae; Chara; Chara globularis; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10979077; http://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B187C6FFC9FFBD1D32CB0DFD03F2A8

Chara globularis Thuill., Fl. Env. Paris 2nd edn, 472 (1799) Type : loc? In the vicinity of Paris, s. dat., Thuillier s.n. (lecto: L 0054649!, fide J.S.Zaneveld, Blumea 4: 191 (1940)) [annotated ‘ most probably co-type ’ by J.C.van Raam]; Hab. in Gallia, s. dat ., [ Thuillier ?] (epi: PC 0074031!, fide H.Sakayama et al. , J. Phycol. 45: 926 (2009)). Monoecious. Plants up to 200 mm high, with light calcium carbonate deposition on the thallus. Axes narrow, 400–500 µm in diameter (Fig. 12 a ); 3× corticated, evenly isostichous, ~21 cells around (Fig. 12 d ). Spine cells absent or inconspicuous. Stipulodes inconspicuous, in two whorls, 2× the number of branchlets in each whorl, globular or rudimentary, clearly present on young nodes, sometimes obscure on old nodes (Fig. 12 d ). Branchlets 7 or 8 in a whorl, 14–32 mm long, 5–8 segments, corticated with ~12 cortical cells around, terminated by a 2–4-celled uncorticated segment (Fig. 12 c ). Bract cells obscure and globose, abaxially up to 500 μm long, bracteoles 2, beside gametangia, 100–500 μm long, 50–80 μm wide (Fig. 12 b ). Gametangia conjoined at the lowest 2–5 branchlet nodes (Fig. 12 e ). Oosporangia up to 1000 µm long and 400 µm wide, coronula up to 100 µm high, appressed. Oospores black, 600–700 µm long, 300–350 µm wide, usually with ‘basal claws’ and a ‘cage’, often with a thin calcified covering ( gyrogonite 800 µm long). Striae of 11 or 12 ridges with a delicate ribbon (flaccid flange) (Fig. 12 f ), fossa wall 40–50 μm across, minutely papillate (Fig. 12 g ). Ribbon with nodular structures. Antheridia up to 450 µm in diameter. Chromosomes n = 42 for a Victorian specimen (Fig. 12 h ) (Casanova 2015). Distribution One of the few apparently cosmopolitan species of charophytes, occurring on all continents except Antarctica. Occurs throughout Australia, in shallow, mostly permanent, sometimes turbid, sometimes slightly saline waterbodies. In the Northern Territory, it has been collected only in the arid zone in dams, bores and canyon waterholes. Habitat and ...