Home / Charophyceae / Desmids / Unicells / Saccoderm / Netrium
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Name derivation:
Classification:
Netrium (Nägeli) Itzigsohn and Rothe in Rabenhorst, 1856; 5 of 62 species descriptions are currently accepted taxonomically. Order Zygnematales; Family Mesotaeniaceae
Morphology:
Solitary, single-celled saccoderm. The cells are usually elongate and cylindrical with rounded ends, but may also be elliptical or fusiform in shape. The cells can excrete large amounts of mucilage. Each cell has two or four large, chloroplasts that appear frilly due to their elaborate lobes and ridges. The nucleus is located between the chloroplasts in the center of the cell. Cell wall is two layered. Asexually reproduce via cell division. Cell movement occurs by mucilage secretion from either cell pole.
Similar genera:
Habitat:
Abundant in acidic, oligotrophic, aquatic habitats or in Sphagnum bog (Guiry and Guiry 2012).
References:
Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org Rabenhorst, L. 1856. Die Algen Sachsens. Exsiccata. Decades 1-100. . Dresden.