Genus:
Colony spherical or slightly ellipsoidal in shape, several protoplasts embedded within a gelatinous matrix,
covered by a single cellwall; number of protoplasts 8 or 16, rarely 4;
a single cell stage is quite similar to Haematococcus;
protoplasts, horizontally arranged in circle, vertically parallel; when number of protoplasts is 16, cells
arranged as stack of two "circles"; each protoplast elongated ellipsoidal, cylindrical, or ovoid;
same as Haematococcus, many filaments protruded from entire protoplast to periphery of
the cellwall; two flagella extending outside from protoplast through cellwall;
chloroplast parietal, essentially cup-shaped, but adjusted to the shape of protoplast;
two pyrenoids present arranging side by side or tandem; stigma rounded, located at posterior part of
protoplast; several contractile vacuoles present; accumulation of haematochrom not observed
(Süßwasserflora von Mitteleuropa 9, Chlorophyta I, 1983).
Species: |