Scherffelia

{{Short description|Genus of algae}} {{Automatic taxobox | taxon = Scherffelia | image = Scherffelia dubia.jpg | authority = Pascher | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = | type_species = Scherffelia dubia | type_species_authority = (Perty) Pascher<ref name=AlgaeBase>{{AlgaeBase genus | id=44240 | title=''Scherffelia'' Pascher, 1911 | access-date=2026-04-16 }}</ref> }}

'''''Scherffelia''''' is a genus of green algae in the family Chlorodendraceae.<ref>See the NCBI [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=3189 webpage on Scherffelia]. Data extracted from the {{cite web | url=https://ftp.ncbi.nih.gov/pub/taxonomy/ | title=NCBI taxonomy resources | publisher=National Center for Biotechnology Information | access-date=2007-03-19}}</ref> It is widespread in freshwater, brackish, and marine habitats,<ref name=AlgaeBase/> but is often overlooked due to its small size.<ref name=Melkonian>{{cite journal|last1=Melkonian |first1=Michael |last2=Preisig |first2=Hans Rudolf |title=A light and electron microscopic study of Scherffelia dubia, a new member of the scaly green flagellates (Prasinophyceae) |journal=Nordic Journal of Botany |date=1986 |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=235–256 |doi=10.1111/j.1756-1051.1986.tb00876.x}}</ref>

The genus was circumscribed by Adolf A. Pascher in Lotos vol.59 on page 341 in 1911.

The genus name of ''Scherffelia'' is in honour of Aladár Scherffel (1865–1938), who was a Hungarian botanist (Algology) and mycologist.<ref>{{cite book | last=Burkhardt | first=Lotte | title=Eine Enzyklopädie zu eponymischen Pflanzennamen |trans-title=Encyclopedia of eponymic plant names | publisher=Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum, Freie Universität Berlin | year=2022 | isbn=978-3-946292-41-8 | url=https://doi.org/10.3372/epolist2022|format=pdf |language=German |location=Berlin | doi=10.3372/epolist2022 |access-date=January 27, 2022}}</ref>

==Description== ''Scherffelia'' is a unicellular organism. The cells are ovoid or ellipsoid, strongly flattened and sometimes somewhat twisted along their longitudinal axes. The anterior apex has a small depression from which four equal flagella emerge. The cell is surrounded by a wall (termed a theca) composed of fused organic scales, which may be reddish in color. The lateral margins of the theca are winged.<ref name=AlgaeBase/><ref name=Nakada2014>{{cite book |editor-first1=John D.|editor-last1=Wehr|editor-first2=Robert G.|editor-last2=Sheath|editor-first3=J. Patrick|editor-last3=Kociolek |date= 2014 |edition=2 |title= Freshwater Algae of North America: Ecology and Classification |last1= Nakada|first1=Takashi| last2=Nozaki |first2=Hisayoshi |chapter= Chapter 6. Flagellate Green Algae |url= |location= |publisher= Elsevier Inc. |pages=265–313|isbn=978-0-12-385876-4 }}</ref>

Cells contain a single central nucleus and two (rarely three) contractile vacuoles) at the anterior. There are two chloroplasts, which lack pyrenoids. An eyespot (stigma) is usually present.<ref name=AlgaeBase/><ref name=Melkonian/>

''Scherffelia'' swims while rotating along its longitudinal axis; it travels in a straight line but may abruptly change its direction.<ref name=Melkonian/>

==Reproduction== ''Scherffelia'' reproduces asexually. The cell contents divide into four within the theca, and become four daughter cells/zoospores. Sexual reproduction has not been observed in ''Scherffelia''.<ref name=AlgaeBase/>

==Species== As accepted by WoRMS;<ref>{{cite web |title=Scherffelia Pascher, 1911 |url=https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=370197 |website=www.marinespecies.org |publisher=WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species |access-date=17 October 2022}}</ref> * ''Scherffelia bichlora'' {{Au|(H.Ettl & O.Ettl) Massjuk & Lilitsk, 2006}} * ''Scherffelia deformis'' {{Au|Skuja, 1939}} * ''Scherffelia dubia'' {{Au|(Perty) Pascher, 1912}} * ''Scherffelia incisa'' {{Au|(Nygaard) Massjuk & Lilitsk, 2006}} * ''Scherffelia pelagica'' {{Au|Skuja, 1948}} * ''Scherffelia phacus'' {{Au|Pascher, 1912}}

Former Species; * ''S. opisthostigma'' {{Au|Skuja, 1948}} accepted as ''Scherffelia dubia'' * ''S. ovata'' {{Au|Pascher, 1927}} accepted as ''Scherffelia dubia''

==References==

Category:Chlorophyta genera Category:Chlorodendrophyceae