| Desmatractum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Desmatractum bipyramidatum | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Clade: | Viridiplantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Chlorophyceae |
| Order: | Chlamydomonadales |
| Family: | incertae sedis |
| Genus: | Desmatractum West & G.S.West, 1902 |
| Type species | |
| Desmatractum plicatum West & G.S.West | |
| Species | |
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Bernardinella Choda, 1925 | |
Desmatractum is a genus of green algae, in the order Chlamydomonadales. It is found in freshwater habitats such as ponds, ditches, and bogs as plankton or metaphyton. The genus is cosmopolitan, but some species are very rare.
Description
Desmatractum is microscopic and consists of single cells. The cells are spherical or ellipsoidal, and are surrounded by a cell envelope that tapers at both ends, making the form overall spindle-shaped. The envelope has 4 to 20 longitudinal ridges, and may be constricted at the equator. The chloroplast is parietally located and contains one or two pyrenoid.
Species are distinguished from each other by the overall shape and size of the cells, as well as the degree of longitudinal ribbing of the cell envelopes. Species that appear similar in the light microscope have very different ultrastructures, and this may be a sign that taxonomic revision is necessary.
Reproduction occurs asexually, where the protoplast divides into four zoospores which are then released through a tear in the cell envelope. Zoospores are oval or elongate, with a single chloroplast and eyespot, as well as two identical anterior flagella. Sexual reproduction has not been observed in Desmatractum.
References
- ^ Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. "Desmatractum". AlgaeBase. University of Galway. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
- P. Chodat. Algue de la région du Grand St Bernard. Bulletin de la Société botanique de Genève, 1918, Bernardinella page 300 : read on line
- Peniococcus Woloszynska, 1914-AlgaeBase : read on line
- ^ Shubert, Elliot; Gärtner, Georg (2014). "Chapter 7. Nonmotile Coccoid and Colonial Green Algae". In Wehr, John D.; Sheath, Robert G.; Kociolek, J. Patrick (eds.). Freshwater Algae of North America: Ecology and Classification (2 ed.). Elsevier Inc. ISBN 978-0-12-385876-4.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Desmatractum | |
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