First record of a cyanobacterium Petalonema alatum (Borzì ex Bornet & Flahault) Correns (Cyanobacteria, Scytonemataceae) in Africa

By

Maree, Louis
Janse Van Vuuren, Sanet
Levanets, Anatoliy
Taylor, Jonathan

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2018-10-5

Original Publication

Check list : journal of species lists and distribution

Volume

14

Series / Issue

Issue: 5

Pages

827--832

Subjects

Algae , Caves , cyanobacterium , Limestone , Sandstone , Scytonema , subaerial

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

[São Paulo, Brazil] Luís Felipe Toledo 2005-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15560/14.5.827

 

Abstract

Petalonema alatum (Borzì ex Bornet & Flahault) Correns is a nitrogen fixing, subaerial cyanobacterium characterized by a blue-green trichome surrounded by a very broad, lamellated mucous sheath. It typically grows on dripping limestone rocks in temperate regions, but it has also been observed in some calcareous lakes and limestone springs. Although the species is known to be present in the Americas, Europe and Asia, no records could be found for its presence in Africa. In the last decade, it was sampled twice from rock surfaces in cave overhangs in the Free State Province of South Africa, representing a first record of its presence in Africa. A taxonomic description, microscope images as well as detailed geographical distributions of P. alatum are provided.