Ecballocystopsis dichotomus sp. nov. (Chlorococcales, Chlorophyceae) from China

Ecballocystopsis dichotomus sp. nov. is the third described species of Ecballocystopsis that grows on rock under water and epiphytically on the filaments of Cladophora and Mougeotia (green algae) collected in a small irrigation ditch in Chong-yang county, Hubei Province (East longitude 29 degrees 30', North latitude 114 degrees 10') and in Zhu-xi county, Hubei Province (East longitude 32 degrees 20', North latitude 109 degrees 45'). The new species differs from E. indica IYENGAR (1933) in having dichotomous branching and its smaller sized thallus; it differs from the second species, E. desikacharyi PRASAD (1985), in having looped filaments, dichotomous branching and smaller cells. Three patterns of cell divisions were observed in E. dichotomus sp. nov. (transverse, longitudinal and oblique). It may be that the new species is evolutionary a more advanced species based upon the structure of its thallus and the manner of spore formation. The systematic position of the genus, based on the comparative studies of the genus Ecballocystis BOHLIN with Cylindrocapsopsis IYENGAR, is discussed.