Sphaerochara californica (A.Braun) R.E.Romanov, 2025

Sphaerochara californica (A.Braun) R.E.Romanov , comb. nov.

Basionym: Tolypella californica A.Braun in A.Braun & Nordstedt Abhandlungen der Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften 1882(1): 99, figs 84–87, 1883.

Holotype ( Braun & Nordstedt 1883: 100): USA: Marin County [“Maria Counts (?)”], California under willows in slow-flowing streams, 27. März 1865, H. Bolander , comm. Dr Engelmann , Aug. 1869 ( B? not located, probably lost).

Lectotype (icons! designated here): Braun & Nordstedt 1883: figs 84–87.

Registration (of name): http://phycobank.org/105472

Registration (of lectotype): http://phycobank.org/105341

Note: The combination of monopodial sterile branchlets bearing a single node with rays, deciduous coronula, and enlarged upper parts of spiral cells, i.e. both traits characteristic of Tolypella sensu stricto, illustrated by Braun and the similarity to T. nidifica (O.F.Müller) A.Braun noted by Braun is not consistent with the decision by Wood who placed T. californica pro parte to synonyms of T. intricata var. intricata f. intricata, f. prolifera (Ziz ex A.Braun) R.D.Wood , and f. spicata R.D.Wood ( Wood 1962) or T. intricata var. intricata f. intricata , and f. prolifera (Wood & Imahori, 1965) , i.e. recognizing it as a collective taxon. However, the description by Braun was based on one gathering from California, and he indicated a requirement for the study of unfragmented plants, not available in the original material. Accordingly, the evidence for Wood’s decision is unclear. It appears that it was not based on re-study of the original material and, probably, it is a result of his study of other Californian specimens of different taxa labelled as T. californica by T. F. Allen according to labels of the specimens studied by Wood (1965). Wood listed the specimen from NY as having almost the same data as the original material of T. californica except for the date and month of collection ( Wood, 1965: 741). Wood recognised this specimen as T. intricata but illustrated it with an indication of T. californica as a synonym ( Wood & Imahori, 1964: icon 388). However, coronulae of oogonia appear persistent, and the presence or absence of swelling of tips of the oogonial spiral cell is unclear according to the drawings of this specimen. Considering the absence of any other part of the original material than the protologue the decision by Wood appears to be unacceptable and species should be kept separately until new topotype material can be examined.