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Table 1 Comparison of the morphological features of the different Geolegnia species.

From: Incipient loss of flagella in the genus Geolegnia: the emergence of a new clade within Leptolegnia?

 

G. helicoides

G. inflata

G. intermedia

G. septisporangia

Zoosporangial shape

Cylindrical to broadly filiform, fusiform; tapering to the apex; straight, usually curved, bent or somewhat sinuous

Cylindrical to filiform at first, becoming swollen at intervals (spores inside expanded portions), in its typical catenulate aspect

Cylindrical to filiform, becoming swollen at intervals (spores inside expanded portions)

Cylindrical to filiform, curved to somewhat sinuous

Zoosporangial size (µm)

(150–)190–600(–800) × 10–20

70–380(–655) × 8–29

As in G. inflata

38–187 × 10–24

Spores shape

Non-motile. Cylindrical, fusiform, or broadly ellipsoidal, infrequently to rarely oval

Non-motile. Spherical-oval, ovate; seldom elongate; formed in a single row

Non-motile. Spherical-oval, ovate; seldom elongate

Non-motile. Cylindircal, fusiform, or broadly ellipsoidal; rarely oval

Oogonial wall

Smooth, thin; unpitted (very rarely with a lateral papillate projection)

Smooth, thin; unpitted

Smooth, thin; unpitted

Smooth, thin; unpitted

Antheridial branches

Androgynous, mainly diclinous, often monoclinous, forming helicoidal spirals about the oogonial stalk, and extensively wrapping about themselves and around adjacent hyphae; slender, irregular; very branched; persisting

Mainly androgynous, infrequent. monoclinous, (diclinous); slender, irregular; unbranched or once-branched; persisting

As in G. inflata

Mainly androgynous, adjacent to oogonia; rarely monoclinous; slender, twisted; unbranched or once-branched; persisting

Oogonial shape

Spherical—subglobose, sometimes obpyriform, pyriform, or very rarely oval or irregular; often immature and proliferating

Spherical-subspherical, obpyriform

As in G. inflata

Spherical to obpyriform

Oogonial diam (µm)

(25–)30–l5

(14–)18–22(–33)

As in G. inflata or larger

(15–)24–30(–38)

Oospore type

Subeccentric; hyaline or brownish, thin-walled, contents finely granular. Oospheres almost always not maturing inside normal oogonia

Eccentric; Oospheres almost always maturing inside normal oogonia

Eccentric; Oospheres almost always maturing inside normal oogonia

Eccentric; Oospheres almost always maturing inside normal oogonia

Oospore diam (µm)

(20–)25–35(–42)

(13–)15–20(–28)

16–19

(13–)22–29(–36)

Oospores per oogonium

Single; spherical or ellipsoidal, or irregular when immature; filling the oogonium

Single; spherical; filling the oogonium

Single; spherical; filling the oogonium

Single; spherical; filling the oogonium

Oogonial stalk

Slender and short or stout and longer; often straight, bent, twisted or curved; branched and somewhat irregular

Slender; curved, bent, twisted and irregular, unbranched or once-branched

Slender; curved, bent, twisted and irregular, unbranched or once-branched

Slender, straight, curved, or somewhat irregular; unbranched

Gemmae

Very rare; cylindrical, fusiform, irregular, or branched; terminal or intercalary, single or catenulate

Lacking

Lacking

Very rare; clavate-obpyriform; single, terminal