Novel alpine algae from New Zealand: Chlorophyta Novis, Phil M. Visnovsky, Gabriel Phytotaxa 2012 2012-01-01 39 1 30 Novis & Visnovsky Novis & Visnovsky 2012 [151,638,151,177] Chlorophyceae Chlorococcaceae Bracteacoccus GBIF Plantae Chlamydomonadales 15 16 Chlorophyta species ruber sp. nov.     Type:— NEW ZEALAND: Westland: Mt Philistine,  1400 m, preserved cultured specimen from sample collected  30 November 2007, CHR610485. Cells spherical, 5.0–24.0(–60.0) µm wide, single or in loose, irregular groups. Cell wall smooth, < 0.5 µmthick in young cells, but up to 5.0 µm thick in large, mature cells ( Fig. 2C). Numerous discoidal–polygonal chloroplasts lacking pyrenoids, parietal but occasionally folded towards the cell interior ( Fig. 2A). Reproduction through autospores, 2–4–8–16 per sporangium ( Fig. 2D). Zoospores not observed. Cells in older cultures develop red pigmentation in the cytoplasm, especially immediately surrounding the nucleus and when exposed to strong light (compare Figs 2F and G). DNA sequence data for 18 Sshowed the species to belong to  Bracteacoccus, but without close affinities ( Fig. 7).  Habitat:—Alpine herbfield soil.   Distribution:— New Zealand.   Etymology:—Referring to the red pigmentation developed by older cultures.  Observations:—Data for rbcL failed to reconstruct  Bracteacoccusas a clade ( Fig. 9); the phylogenetic conclusions are therefore drawn from 18S data. The size and red colouration of  B. ruberresemble those reported for  B. minor(Chodat) Petrová 1931, but the two are not closest relatives according to DNA sequences. Fučíková et al.(2011)suggest that  Bracteacoccus( Tereg 1923)and  Pseudomuriella( Hanagata 1998)are morphologically cryptic genera. However, our strain of  Bracteacoccusis clearly related to  B. aerius( Bischoff & Bold 1963) UTEX 1250, which falls in the  Bracteacoccusclade of Fučíková et al.The large cells with multilayered wall suggest  B. giganteus( Bischoff & Bold 1963), but 18S rDNA sequences clearly distinguish this from  B. ruber( Fig. 7). Capacity to develop the red colouration was found to diminish over time following isolation from field material, especially if the population underwent a culture cycle in liquid medium before replating on agar. A crude spectrophotometer test indicated that the pigment absorbs in the UV spectrum (data not shown).  Cultures:—LCR-CG8. 3128888307 2007-11-30 CHR New Zealand 1400 Westland Mt Philistine 15 16 CHR610485 1 holotype