Home / Chlorophyceae / Unicells / Non-flagellated / Eremosphaera
Click on images for larger format
Name derivation:
"Solitary sphere" (From the Greek eremosis -solitary, and sphaira -ball, sphere)
Classification:
Eremosphaera De Bary 1858; 6 of 13 species descriptions are currently accepted taxonomically (uiry and Guiry 2013). Order Chlorellales; Family Oocystaceae
Morphology:
Large (up to 300 µm in diameter) spherical to subspherical or ellipsoidal cells, solitary cell with many chloroplasts arranged in cytoplasm strands that radiate from the center of the cell. The cell wall is composed of multiple layers. There are numerous granules and oil droplets found in the cytoplasm. Sometimes the cells will remain in groups of 2-4 if the cells do not completely separate from their parents but are mostly solitary. Asexual reproduction by autospores; 2-4 per sporangium and released by rupture of parental cell wall.(Guiry 2012)
Similar genera:
Habitat:
Around and among aquatic macrophytes in ponds, lakes, and especially in association with desmids in low pH bogs
References:
Graham, L. E. and L. W. Wilcox. 2000. Algae. Prentice Hall Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 15 February 2012. Jaeger E. C. 1972. A source-book of biological names and terms. 3rd Ed. Charles C. Thomas Publisher Wehr J.D. and R. G. Sheath. 2003. Freshwater Algae of North America. Academic Press (Imprint of Elsevier)