identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
03E6502114427C280908F9D9FC051D75.text	03E6502114427C280908F9D9FC051D75.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Chara braunii C. C. Gmelin	<div><p>Chara braunii C.C.Gmelin</p><p>Flora Badensis, Alsatica et confinium regionum cis et [...] 4: 646 (Gmelin 1826).</p><p>Neotype (designated by Wood in Wood &amp; Imahori 1965: 262). — Prope Oldenico; aetate 1856; Malvinverni (NY945633, Macroalgal Herbarium Portal 2024) .</p><p>SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — Laos • Xiangkhouang Province, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=103.15411&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=19.319778" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 103.15411/lat 19.319778)">Plain of Jars, Site 2</a>, in an inundated stone jar; c. 19°19’11.2”N, 103°09’14.8”E; pressed specimens; DNA voucher specimens for C. braunii C.C. Gmelin and N. laotica; 06.XII.2012; A. M. Glushchenko, E. L. Konstantinov &amp; other biologists of the Tsiolkovsky Kaluga State University (LE [LEA0006486]; GenBank accession: C. braunii rbc L[PP470896]; N. laotica sp. nov.; rbc L[PP470898]) • Nordlaos, Provinz Xieng Khouang, Phonsavan, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=3.155278&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=19.430332" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 3.155278/lat 19.430332)">Ebene der Steinkrüge, Site 1, in wassergefülltem Steinkrug</a>; 19°25’49.2”N, 03°09’19.0”E; 1109 m alt.; pressed specimens; DNA voucher specimen for C. braunii and N. laotica sp. nov.; 11.VIII.2018; K.-G. Bernhardt &amp; N. Stoeckl (LE[LEA0006487], WHB[WHB72405]; GenBank accessions: C. braunii rbc L[PP470897], N. laotica sp. nov.; rbc L[PP470899], rbc L[PP470900], ITS[PP476817]), ITS[PP476818] .</p><p>DISTRIBUTION. — One of few genuinely cosmopolitan species of charophytes (Khan &amp; Sarma 1984; Korsch 2018). It is known from north boreal to tropical regions, being a typical charophyte of paddy fields worldwide, although it can grow in different types of water bodies from freshwater to brackish including large lakes with diverse thermal regimes (Casanova &amp; Doege 2024).</p><p>VARIABILITY. — Our specimens are quite uniform and showed no new or extreme expression of morphological traits from the perspective of morphological descriptions available for this species from different regions (see references in ‘Introduction’ and ‘Material and methods’). This uniformity of plants from individual populations was reported by Zaneveld (1940). The studied plants belong to the typical variety and form, in other words, var. braunii (A. Braun) Zaneveld f. typica Zaneveld nom. inval. (cf. Zaneveld 1940). Missing branchlets at most axial nodes of long plants can be recognized as evidence of long-term growth at the same site, probably indicating that these populations are represented by perennial plants. This assumption based on our numerous observations of perennial populations of other species requires direct field observations because it is widely accepted that C. braunii is mostly an annual species, although in permanent warm-water habitats, it can grow for a long time (Casanova &amp; Doege 2024), likely repeatedly reproducing by germination of oospores in some cases (Proctor 1990), or probably growing as long-living individual plants having vegetative reproduction (SouliéMärsche &amp; Vautier 2004). The annual populations are confirmed by our observations in North Asia, i.e., at the northern part of the species distribution range, including ice-free sites at Kamchatka receiving thermal effluents (Chernyagina 2018; Chernyagina O. A. &amp; Romanov R. E., unpublished data).</p><p>DESCRIPTION</p><p>Rarely branched richly fertile ecorticate monoicous plants, 5.3 to 16- 30 cm in length, moderately zonally lime-incrusted, bearing complete branchlets at upper ¹⁄6-1/3 part, with decaying basal parts, bearing slightly enlarged stem nodes (Fig. 1A, B). Stipulodes are haplostephanous, acute, very short (Fig. 1A). Branchlets 10 in a whorl, 7-14 mm length, completely differentiated into nodes and internodes, consisting of three-four, mostly four segments and tiny coronula at the top (Fig. 1B), nearly equal or slightly shorter than internodes at parts with complete branchlets, slightly longer to 1.5-2-times longer of internodes at apical parts. Sometimes the basal segment is distinctly shorter than the segment above it. Gametangia are conjoined, mostly at the two basal nodes of the branchlets. Abaxial bract-cells are acuminate, short, adaxial bract-cells and bracteoles are longer but, anyway, they are shorter of ripe oogonia, usually c. 2/3-ª⁄5 of oogonium length. Oogonia are 530-660 × 310-415 µ m without coronula in a dry state. Coronulae are 110-135× 90-162 µm in dry state. Ripe oospores are black.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03E6502114427C280908F9D9FC051D75	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Romanov, Roman E.;Nikulin, Vyacheslav Yu.;Bernhardt, Karl-Georg;Glushchenko, Anton M.;Konstantinov, Evgeny L.;Phinsavath, Sungsamouth;Gontcharov, Andrey A.	Romanov, Roman E., Nikulin, Vyacheslav Yu., Bernhardt, Karl-Georg, Glushchenko, Anton M., Konstantinov, Evgeny L., Phinsavath, Sungsamouth, Gontcharov, Andrey A. (2026): First species records of charophytes (Charophyceae, Characeae) from Laos with a description of new species Nitella laotica R. E. Romanov, V. Yu. Nikulin, K. - G. Bernhardt & A. A. Gontcharov, sp. nov. and lectotypification of Chara pseudohydropithys Imahori. Cryptogamie, Algologie 47 (1): 1-22, DOI: 10.5252/cryptogamie-algologie2026v47a1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compbiomed.2025.111426
03E6502114427C240B91F8B5FA551B9D.text	03E6502114427C240B91F8B5FA551B9D.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Chara pseudohydropithys Imahori	<div><p>Chara pseudohydropithys Imahori</p><p>Botanical Magazine, Tokyo 63: 262 (Imahori 1950), ( ‘ pseudohydropitys ’). Lectotype (designated here by R. E. Romanov). — Plate V based on syntypes from Taiwan at p. 134 in Imahori 1953.</p><p>SPECIEMEN EXAMINED. — Laos • <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=104.83376&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=17.38845" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 104.83376/lat 17.38845)">Thakhek</a>; 17°23.307’N, 104°50.026’E; 146 m alt.; submersed; stored in 4% formalin; 29.XI.2011; A. M. Glushchenko (LE [LEAW000054]); Chara pseudohydropithys .</p><p>LOCALITIES OF SYNTYPES (Imahori 1950). — Tantei Tairinsyo [Dairinsho in Imahori 1953], Prov. Tainan. Toseki Koryo [Kobiryo, Danrinsho? in Imahori 1953], Prov. Tainan. Kwandensyo [Kwandensho in Imahori 1953], Prov. Tainan, no date. The dates of collections were reported later (Imahori 1953): 12.VIII.1941 for Tantei and Kobiryo, 21.VIII.1941 for Kwandensho.</p><p>DISTRIBUTION. — This is the first record of Chara pseudohydropithys for Southeast Asia, extending its distribution range from Taiwan (Imahori 1950, 1953), mainland China (Han &amp; Li 1994), India (Patel &amp; Jawale 1979; Pundhir et al. 1994), and Brazil (Bueno &amp; Bicudo 2021).</p><p>VARIABILITY. — The characteristics of the axial cortex, and length of both bract-cells and bracteoles are the most variable morphological traits of the studied specimens of C. pseudohydropithys from Laos. Different length of bract-cells and bracteoles results in different appearances of the branchlet whorls. The number of branchlet nodes and corticate segments, the number of fertile branchlet nodes, and the arrangement of stipulodes are less variable. The occasional presence of small accessory cells near spine-cells in the axial cortex has not been reported for this species before.</p><p>DESCRIPTION</p><p>Monoicous richly fertile plants are up to several cm in length, not incrusted with lime, green, and transparent after storage in formalin solution (Figs 1 C-H; 2). The axis is smooth in general appearance, (280)300-510 µm in diameter. The axial cortex is triplostichous slightly tylacanthous to generally isostichous, to diplo-triplostichous slightly tylacanthous, and rarely even diplostichous and slightly tylacanthous (Fig. 2 E-J). Secondary tubes contact each other obliquely or rarely at a right angle and can overlap each other (Fig. 2H). Some irregularity in axial cortex arrangement is not infrequent (Fig. 2G). Spine-cells are very short, rounded, solitary, and hardly visible (Fig. 2F), 27-40 µm in outline viewed from above, and 23-42 µm in length. Some spine-cells have small lateral accessory cells not protruding from the cortex, narrower, but a little longer than spine-cells (Fig. 2J). Stipulodes are mostly haplostephanous (Fig. 2C), but can be both haplo-and diplostephanous on the same plant (Fig. 2D). The upper stipulodes are two per branchlet, conical and pointed to cylindrical with conical pointed ends, mostly two-four-times shorter of basal segment of branchlets, rarely equal to them at upper, less developed, whorls, densely arranged and appressed to the branchlet base, 330-880 µm length. Their whorl in outline looks like a dentate cap at lower magnification (Figs 1C, E-G;2B). The lower row of stipulodes is incomplete and consists of cells of variable length (Fig. 2D), but always shorter of upper stipulodes, with obtuse to narrowed ends, 130-220 µm length.</p><p>Branchlets are 10 (11?) in a whorl, straight, 180-220 µm in diameter, completely differentiated into nodes and internodes, consisting of four or rarely five segments, shorter to slightly longer than the internodes at upper parts, shorter than the internodes at lower parts, 3.2-10.1 mm length (Figs 1 C-H; 2A, B). The branchlets with five nodes (in other words, consisting of five segments) can occur singly in a whorl or the whole whorl can consist of them (Fig. 2A, B). The basal segment of the branchlet is always ecorticate (Figs 1G, H; 2A, B), (424)655-1940 ×153-300 µ m, 2.7-8.6 times longer of width. Mostly two, rarely one or three, and even four corticate segments above the basal segment are perfectly covered with diplostichous stem cortex (Figs 1 E-H; 2A, B). Three and four corticate segments are formed at branchlets with five nodes (Fig. 2A, B). In the case of four corticate segments the last branchlet segment is corticate (Fig. 2B). The length of corticate segments is usually slightly shorter than ecorticate ones but can be nearly equal to them. The branchlets have two-four fructifying nodes, mostly two or three, and end with a tassel consisting of three-six pointed cells (Figs 1C, E-G; 2B). They are not shortened, incl. the longer and distinctly recognizable end cell being at 1/3 longer than bract-cells, or its length is nearly the same in comparison with three bract-cells at the last node more or less equal each other in length (Figs 1D, G, H; 2A, B). The end cell of the branchlet is 560-2080 µm in length.</p><p>Bract-cells are pointed, two-three times shorter than the neighboring branchlet segment up to mostly equal and somewhat exceeding their length, longest and verticillate at sterile and fertile nodes, but adaxial cells are frequently slightly or distinctly shorter, very rarely slightly longer than the abaxial ones (Figs 1 D-H; 2A, B). Bract-cells are unilateral at many fertile nodes, i.e., abaxial cells are distinctly shorter than adaxial ones. Adaxial bract-cells can be up to five times shorter than abaxial ones. Adaxial bract-cells are slightly longer to mostly significantly longer than oogonia, rarely equal to slightly shorter than oogonia, (181)510-2040(2076) µm length. Abaxial bract-cells are not rudimentary, (78)103- 2110 µm length. Bracteoles are slightly shorter to evidently shorter of adaxial bract cells but could be slightly longer of adaxial bract-cells as an exception, 203-1674(2140) µm length. Gametangia are conjoined (Fig. 2K), almost only at the base and top of corticate segments and between them, solitary, with vertically geminate oogonia in a single case only. They can be at the last node of the branchlet nearly replacing the end cell and making the end tassel of cells not obvious (Fig. 1D). Oogonia are 340-504×240-330µm, and coronulae are 89-106×134-179 µ m. Ripe oospores are brown to black, with low spiral ribs, 290-370 × 172-226 µm. Antheridia are octoscutate, (180)208-310 µm in diameter.</p><p>TAXONOMIC NOTES</p><p>The holotype of C. pseudohydropithys was not indicated by the author (Imahori 1950). All three syntypes were lost in fire from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima at the end of the Second World War in 1945 (Imahori 1950, 1954; Wood &amp; Imahori 1965; Proctor 1980). Only excellent drawings from the paper by Imahori (1953) could be used for the typification implemented here. These drawings were based on syntypes as can be concluded from a comparison of the lists of specimens mentioned in the protologue and subsequent article (cf. Imahori 1950: 262; Imahori 1953: 125). These drawings were unpublished illustrations at the moment of protologue publication because the specimens upon which they were based were already lost. These drawings were undoubtedly associated with this taxon by its author and were available to the author at the time of the description preparation with the analysis validating the name. Therefore, it seems to be possible to recognize these drawings as a part of original material suitable for designation as a lectotype according to the Art. 9.11 and 9.12 (Turland et al. 2025). The search for plants or specimens and selection of an epitype from Taiwan, placed as close as possible to three localities of its syntypes, is preferable and should be done in the future. It will allow the application of the newly selected epitype for barcoding. Chara pseudohydropithys was described under the name ‘ C. pseudohydropitys ’ as opposite to a very similar C. hydropithys Reichenbach according to the protologue (Imahori 1950) and is corrected to ‘ C. pseudohydropithys ’ according to the Art. ICN 60 (Turland et al. 2025) and suggestion by Guiry &amp; Guiry (2024).</p><p>It was already noted that C. hydropithys can form both haplostephanous and diplostephanous stipulodes in the same plant (Proctor 1980; Krishnan 2006). The haplostephanous stipulodes could be recognized as a result of the suppressed development of initials of stipulodes forming the lower row in the case of this species (Sundaralingam 1966). A similar result of the developmental pattern was reported for C. strigosa A.Braun, C. locuples Hollerb. and C. uzbekistanica Hollerb. (Hollerbach 1960; Romanov et al. 2014; Romanov 2021; Romanov &amp; Zhakova 2024). Therefore, C. pseudohydropithys seems to be a morphotype of C. hydropithys producing stipulodes in the lower row and as such could be recognized as its synonym as it was suggested by Proctor (1980). This decision can be expected in future after integrative taxonomic studies across the species distribution range covering Africa: Ethiopia and Madagascar (Braun &amp; Nordstedt 1882; Groves 1928), Asia (Zaneveld 1940; Imahori 1953; Gupta 2012), North and South Americas (Braun &amp; Nordstedt 1882; Tindall 1966; Proctor 1980; Mann et al. 1999; Borges &amp; Necchi 2017; Bueno &amp; Bicudo 2021).</p><p>Chara pseudohydropithys was described as having a regularly diplostichous axial cortex, but the original drawing shows the secondary tubes slightly overlapping (Imahori 1953). Moreover, the transverse section of the axis could be interpreted as evidence of a diplo-triplostichous stem cortex. Our specimens show a wider variability of axial cortex arrangement than known before this study. Short bract-cells are typical for plants from Laos having smaller oospores but without evident hiatus in this trait with the original material of C. pseudohydropithys (cf. Imahori 1953: 370-390 ×220-240 µm).</p><p>Despite many morphological similarities with species of the subsection Agardhia R.D.Wood, C. hydropithys is distant from this group according to molecular genetics (Meiers et al. 1999). Considering its diplostephanous stipulodes and constantly ecorticate basal segment of branchlet its placement in the subsection Willdenowia R.D.Wood, whose similarity to C. pseudohydropithys as was noted by Imahori (1953), looks more preferable from a morphological perspective than placement in the subsection Agardhia R.D.Wood implemented by Wood &amp; Imahori (1965). The assignment of C. hydropithys to the subsection Willdenowia was suggested by Meiers et al. (1999), confirmed by Borges &amp; Necchi (2017), Becker et al. (2021), Mjelde et al. (2021) and Romanov et al. (2022a, c) from a genetic perspective and that assignment is followed here. The same decision is suggested here for C. pseudohydropithys . The section Imahoria J.van Raam nom. inval. (van Raam 2010) described for accommodation of C. hydropithys and some related taxa appears to be a redundant taxonomic solution.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03E6502114427C240B91F8B5FA551B9D	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Romanov, Roman E.;Nikulin, Vyacheslav Yu.;Bernhardt, Karl-Georg;Glushchenko, Anton M.;Konstantinov, Evgeny L.;Phinsavath, Sungsamouth;Gontcharov, Andrey A.	Romanov, Roman E., Nikulin, Vyacheslav Yu., Bernhardt, Karl-Georg, Glushchenko, Anton M., Konstantinov, Evgeny L., Phinsavath, Sungsamouth, Gontcharov, Andrey A. (2026): First species records of charophytes (Charophyceae, Characeae) from Laos with a description of new species Nitella laotica R. E. Romanov, V. Yu. Nikulin, K. - G. Bernhardt & A. A. Gontcharov, sp. nov. and lectotypification of Chara pseudohydropithys Imahori. Cryptogamie, Algologie 47 (1): 1-22, DOI: 10.5252/cryptogamie-algologie2026v47a1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compbiomed.2025.111426
03E65021144E7C240BCCFDDCFC2C18FD.text	03E65021144E7C240BCCFDDCFC2C18FD.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Nitella C. Agardh 1824	<div><p>Genus Nitella C.Agardh</p><p>REMARK</p><p>Nitella specimens collected in Laos have been described here as a new species.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03E65021144E7C240BCCFDDCFC2C18FD	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Romanov, Roman E.;Nikulin, Vyacheslav Yu.;Bernhardt, Karl-Georg;Glushchenko, Anton M.;Konstantinov, Evgeny L.;Phinsavath, Sungsamouth;Gontcharov, Andrey A.	Romanov, Roman E., Nikulin, Vyacheslav Yu., Bernhardt, Karl-Georg, Glushchenko, Anton M., Konstantinov, Evgeny L., Phinsavath, Sungsamouth, Gontcharov, Andrey A. (2026): First species records of charophytes (Charophyceae, Characeae) from Laos with a description of new species Nitella laotica R. E. Romanov, V. Yu. Nikulin, K. - G. Bernhardt & A. A. Gontcharov, sp. nov. and lectotypification of Chara pseudohydropithys Imahori. Cryptogamie, Algologie 47 (1): 1-22, DOI: 10.5252/cryptogamie-algologie2026v47a1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compbiomed.2025.111426
03E65021144E7C3E0B50FD3DFDAB1CC0.text	03E65021144E7C3E0B50FD3DFDAB1CC0.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Nitella laotica R. E. Romanov, V. Yu. Nikulin, K. - G. Bernhardt & A. A. Gontcharov 2026	<div><p>Nitella laotica R.E.Romanov, V.Yu.Nikulin, K.-G.Bernhardt &amp; A.A.Gontcharov, sp. nov.</p><p>DIAGNOSIS. — Nitella laotica sp. nov. differs from the somewhat similar habit of N.mucronata (A.Braun) Miq. by the presence of a central secondary ray in some branchlets, the ability to form clear spike-like apical parts of plants, as well as ornamentation of the oospores including meshes with a sophisticated outline on the fossae, more sculptured and unflanged striae, an absence of meshes with shallower smaller meshes inside them on the oospore fossae (Figs 3; 4; 5; 6; 7 A-E; 8), and rbc L sequence (Fig. 10). Nitella laotica sp. nov. differs from N. oligospira A.Braun, a species showing affinity in rbc L and ITS-based phylogenies (Figs 10; 11), with mainly two × furcated branchlets, an absence of four- and five-furcated branchlets, the presence of gametangia at the first furcations of branchlets, unabbreviated dactyls, and the presence of a central secondary ray at some branchlets as well as a well-developed reticulate surface of the oospores. Nitella laotica sp. nov. shares features with N. flagellifera J.Groves &amp; G.O.Allen, which is also related phylogenetically, but is distinguished by the absence of an accessory branch arising from the top of the central secondary ray. The same trait allows easy separation of the new species from N. graciliformis J.Groves, a taxon close to N. flagellifera . The second morphotype of N. laotica sp. nov. resembles N. confervacea (Bréb.) A.Braun ex Leonh. by branchlet arrangement, but differs distinctly by the presence of central secondary ray and reticulate oospore surface, as well as rbc L sequence. Nitella laotica sp. nov. differs from N. tenuissima (Desv.) Kütz., a species having a similar arrangement of branchlets, by non-shortened secondary rays at lax branchlets, the presence of gametangia at the first furcation of branchlets, absence of a densely beaded ornamentation, and denser reticulation of oospore surface, and rbc L sequence.</p><p>MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Laos • Northern Laos, Provinz Xieng Khouang, Phonsavan, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=103.15528&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=19.430332" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 103.15528/lat 19.430332)">Ebene der Steinkrüge, Site 1, in wassergefülltem Steinkrug</a>; 19°25’49.2”N, 103°09’19.0”E; 1109 m alt.; pressed specimens; DNA voucher specimen; 11.VIII.2018; K.-G. Bernhardt &amp; N. Stoeckl; deposited in the Herbarium of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (holotype: WHB [WHB72405]) ; (Fig. 3) • same data as for holotype; deposited in the Herbarium of the Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation (isotype: LE [LEA0006487]). GenBank accession: (rbc L PP470899) and (ITS PP476817) • Xiangkhouang Province, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=103.15411&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=19.319778" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 103.15411/lat 19.319778)">Plain of Jars, Site 2</a>, in an inundated stone jar; c. 19°19’11.2”N, 103°09’14.8”E; pressed specimens; DNA voucher specimen; 06.XII.2012; A. M. Glushchenko, E. L. Konstantinov &amp; other biologists of the Tsiolkovsky Kaluga State University (paratype: LE [LEA0006486]; GenBank accession: rbc L[PP470898]); together with C. braunii .</p><p>TYPE LOCALITY. — Laos • Northern Laos, Xieng Khouang Province, Phonsavan, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=103.15528&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=19.430332" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 103.15528/lat 19.430332)">Plain of Jars, Site 1</a>; 1109 m alt.; 19°25’49.2”N, 103°09’19.0”E.</p><p>ETYMOLOGY. — This species was named to highlight its country of origin.</p><p>DISTRIBUTION. — Nitella laotica sp. nov. is known from two localities in Laos only.</p><p>HABITAT. — The plants were growing inside inundated artificial rock, mostly sandstone, jars with internal depths mostly not exceeding 50 cm and volumes up to 254 L (Colani 1935; Genovese 2015; Devantier-Thomas 2021; Käse et al. 2025). The jars harbored rainwater, which was nutrient-poor and brownishcolored by humic acids. Few submerged and floating water plants were spotted there. Species of Lemna L. and dense stands of charophytes consisting of Chara braunii and N. laotica sp. nov. were notable among them. In both cases, N. laotica sp. nov. was associated with C. braunii . This species could be associated with small water bodies only.</p><p>VARIABILITY. — The compacted to lax branchlets, overlapping at the apical parts of plants and resulting in the spike-like appearance of plants or more or less regularly distributed result in the different general appearance of N. laotica sp. nov. represented with two intergrading morphotypes illustrated above. The type specimen is not moniliform, but with regularly spaced whorls, moderately lax plants without apical spikes but able to form heads . The second morphotype is represented by densely moniliform plants with clasping whorls, forming spikes at apices. Compacted branchlets of both morphotypes differ with dactyls being mostly not so different in length in comparison to branchlet secondary rays in the case of type material and distinctly longer than branchlet secondary rays in the case of the second morphotype. The variable appearance of dactyls from not mucronate to mucronate is notable too.</p><p>DESCRIPTION</p><p>Green transparent plants are mostly without traces of lime incrustation, sometimes with subtle to evident lime incrustation at dactyls, moderately branched, not compacted, usually without overlapping of upper whorls, able to form diffuse heads at apex and branches (Fig. 3), with branchlets of moderately lax appearance, without mucilage, at least 13 cm length with whorl spans 12-25 mm. The other morphotype is moderately branched, having a moniliform appearance because of overlapping dense whorls spacing becoming gradually denser towards the apex, forming terminal spike-like upper parts (Fig. 4), without mucilage, at least 7 cm high (the longest part of the incomplete plant is 6.5 cm length) with whorls spans 3.2-12.5 mm. Axes are moderately slender, 230-290 µm in diameter at shortened parts, and 420-580 µm in diameter at lax parts in a collapsed pressed state. Well-developed branchlets are 9-12 mm and in the case of the second morphotype are 2.0- 2.8 mm long in heads and 3-7.5 mm long, six-seven in a whorl, nearly equal to internode length and longer of internodes at upper parts of plants (Figs 3; 5 A-D) and in case of the second morphotype somewhat shorter to nearly equal to internode length at basal parts of plants (Fig. 4A, B), and distinctly longer of internodes at upper parts of plants, two-three-furcated, mostly two-furcated, with and without central secondary rays at the same plant and even at the same whorl (Figs 4D, F; 5 C-I). Sterile branchlets can be one-furcated and one-two-furcated. The lowermost available branchlets are distinctly to moderately lax (Figs 3; 4A, B).</p><p>Primary rays are 1.4–3- 4.8 mm length, at compacted branchlets(CB) – 360-892µm, secondary rays – 0.8–1.8- 4 mm length, at CB – lateral secondary rays – 358-783 µm and central secondary rays – 440-777 µm, tertiary rays – c. 1.4 mm length, at CB – 373-823 µm. The rays of each order at lax branchlets do not appear compacted or shortened (Figs 3; 5 C-F). Primary rays are longest in comparison to rays of other orders, more or less equal to half of the branchlet length or slightly shorter. Lateral secondary rays are shorter of the primary ones at c. one-third or half a length, but mostly longer of dactyls at onefourth at lax branchlets and distinctly shorter of them at the second morphotype and compacted branchlets, (3) 4-5. The central secondary ray surrounded with four lateral secondary rays is not formed at every branchlet (Figs 4C, F; 5 C-I; 6A-E). Dactyls are strictly two-celled (Figs 4C; 5F, K; 6 A-F), not abbreviated, nearly equal to secondary rays, slightly longer or shorter than last (secondary) rays, usually somewhat shorter than secondary rays at lax branchlets (Fig. 5 C-F), but longer to nearly equal to secondary rays at compacted branchlets (Figs 4 C-F; 5H, I; 6A-E), at third furcation shorter than dactyls at second furcation (Fig. 5C), 2-4, 1.05-2.6 mm length, at abbreviated branchlets (AB) – (0.7) 0.85-1.7 mm length, at third furcation of AB – 0.87-1.15 mm length. Dactyls which are distinctly longer than secondary rays are typical for the second morphotype. The end cells of dactyls are conical mucronate through submucronate to nearly confluent with apex of penultimate cell (Figs 4C; 5F, J, K; 6 A-F), pointed, can be fallen at old branchlets, 100-194(226-287)×36-80µm. Non-mucronate or submucronate end cells are frequent at most compacted branchlets, whereas mucronate end cells are common at lax branchlets. The plants are macrodactylous, but moderately abbreviated dactyls as rare cases only at third furcation of two-three-furcated branchlets, c. 0.48-0.68 mm length, are notable.</p><p>Gametangia are sessile, conjoined (Figs 5J; 6F), at first and second furcations of branchlets (Figs 5G, 6E), but usually missing at first furcation because of central secondary ray presence (Fig. 5E, F, H, I), absent at the whorl base. They are conjoined at upper whorls only because of probably early falling of antheridia. Both oogonia and antheridia are solitary only. Oogonia are widely ellipsoid with seven-eight convolutions of spiral cell, not swollen at the apical part (Fig. 6G), c. 330-355 × c. 289 × c. 214 µm in dry state, 431-484 ×351- 425 µm × c. 322 µm in the rewetted state. Coronulae are consisted of cells nearly equal to each other in both rows (Fig. 6G), 30-50 ×54-77µ m in the rewetted state.</p><p>Oospores are widely ellipsoid to nearly circular in lateral view, with seven-eight spiral low to moderately flanged striae, without a collar at the top (Figs 6G; 7; 8), 282-314× 252-295µm in the rewetted state. Ripe oospores are light yellow-reddish in reflecting light and yellow-brown to golden-brown in transmitting light. The oospore surface is distinctly reticulate in light and scanning electron microscopy (Figs 6 G, H; 7 A-E; 8). The fossa surface is reticulate, with mostly eight-ten meshes across the fossa, without or with few small irregular granules inside meshes (Figs 7D, E; 8C, D), with slight conical projected appearance of mesh vertices and more or less concave mesh edges (Figs 7D, E; 8E, F). Rarely mesh edges bear mesh vertices-looking projections (tubercules or beads) in their middle parts. Meshes are more or less isodiametric to somewhat elongated, sometimes with unfinished separation of individual mesh cells resulting in their constricted to even more sophisticated outline (Fig. 7C, D). The second morphotype has many sophisticated meshes (Fig. 8C, D). Mesh size measured as the distance between most remote mesh vertices of the same mesh is 2.58-9.06 µm. The reticulate surface of the oospore seems to be developed as mesh vertices appearing first as granules forming a mesh pattern without mesh edges in the middle of fossae (Fig. 7B). Then these granules increase in size because of the growth of mesh edges from the granules giving granules short trihedral pyramid-like appearance. The appearance of concave surfaces inside meshes is developing because of the development of mesh edges. The patches of more or less developed meshes originate at the middle parts of fossae expanding toward ribs and neighboring patches. The same pattern could be suggested for rib surfaces but with some delay and culminating in less deep inside of meshes. Hence well-developed mesh pattern is traceable at the parts of ribs proximal to the oospore surface (Figs 6H; 7C, D; 8B, D-F). The unripe sculpture of rib flanges is not well-developed, being nearly smooth to net-like granulated (Figs 7E; 8E).</p><p>The antheridia are octoscutate (Fig. 6I). The diameter of antheridia is much less than the oogonia size in the dry state (Fig. 5J). An isolated antheridium was spotted between four dactyls in a single case only. Dry antheridia are up to 230 µm in diameter, rewetted ones are 269-310 µm in diameter, and unripe ones are c. 245-250 µm in diameter.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03E65021144E7C3E0B50FD3DFDAB1CC0	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Romanov, Roman E.;Nikulin, Vyacheslav Yu.;Bernhardt, Karl-Georg;Glushchenko, Anton M.;Konstantinov, Evgeny L.;Phinsavath, Sungsamouth;Gontcharov, Andrey A.	Romanov, Roman E., Nikulin, Vyacheslav Yu., Bernhardt, Karl-Georg, Glushchenko, Anton M., Konstantinov, Evgeny L., Phinsavath, Sungsamouth, Gontcharov, Andrey A. (2026): First species records of charophytes (Charophyceae, Characeae) from Laos with a description of new species Nitella laotica R. E. Romanov, V. Yu. Nikulin, K. - G. Bernhardt & A. A. Gontcharov, sp. nov. and lectotypification of Chara pseudohydropithys Imahori. Cryptogamie, Algologie 47 (1): 1-22, DOI: 10.5252/cryptogamie-algologie2026v47a1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compbiomed.2025.111426
