An overview of Chara L. in Australia (Characeae, Charophyta)
Michelle T. CasanovaRoyal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, RMB L620 Westmere, Vic. 3351, Australia.
Email: amcnova@netconnect.com.au
Australian Systematic Botany 18(1) 25-39 https://doi.org/10.1071/SB04027
Submitted: 23 July 2003 Accepted: 7 February 2005 Published: 29 March 2005
Abstract
Charophytes (family Characeae) are a cohesive group within the green algae. The genus Chara is abundant and diverse in a variety of Australian habitats. Approximately 37 taxa of Chara have been described on the basis of Australian collections. The current status of charophyte taxonomy is confused. RD Wood revised Australian charophytes in 1972 on the basis of an erroneous species concept, and charophytes are rarely identified lower than genus by ecologists and water managers. Many species were described by overseas experts in the mid-1800s, and this trend continues to the present day. Typically, species descriptions have been based on examination of few specimens, and sometimes not even fertile representatives of each species. In this study Wood’s (1972) taxonomic treatment of Australian members of the genus Chara is examined and analysed in relation to historical species concepts and more recent experimental taxonomy and oospore morphology. Thorough studies based on determination of reliable indicators of genetic incompatibility through culture studies, including oospore morphology and genetic analysis and objective analysis of fertile specimens, are now required.
Acknowledgments
Simon Crawford (School of Botany, the University of Melbourne) helped with scanning electron microscopy and oospore cleaning techniques. This ongoing work was initiated by receipt of an ABRS grant to A García and MT Casanova in 2000. Thanks go to numerous collectors from around Australia for sending charophytes. Thanks also go to the staff at the National Herbarium of Victoria for cheerful assistance. Thanks go to Anthony and Robert Casanova for discussion and assistance on collecting trips. I also thank RD Wood for sorting out a huge body of information on Australian charophytes, diligently collecting from hundreds of Australian localities and leaving me something to do. ‘A dwarf standing on a giant’s shoulders can see more than the giant himself’. I thank Vernon Proctor for asking the big questions and encouragement, and two anonymous reviewers for suggestions that have been used to improve this manuscript.
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