Home / Chlorophyceae / Colonies /Non-flagellated / Sphaerocystis
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Name derivation:
“Spherical pouch” -- Sphaerical Sphaero- pouch –cystis
Classification:
Sphaerocystis R.Chodat 1897; 4 of 11 species descriptions are currently accepted taxonomically (Guiry and Guiry 2013) Order Tetrasporales; Family Sphaerocystidaceae Synonym: Coenochloris Korshikov 1953
Morphology:
Spherical colony of non-flagellated globose cells embedded in mucilage. Each cell is nearly filled with one cup-shaped chloroplast. Cell division is asynchronous. Spherical individual cells in groups of four clusters in mucus to form spherical colonies. Cell walls are difficult to see as they dissolve in the colony.
Similar genera:
Eutetramorus Walton 1918 is treated here as a synonym. Gloeocystis has more viscous mucilage with lamellae. Eudorina is similar but has flagellated cells and synchronous cell division.
Habitat:
Freshwater lakes in South Africa, North America, and Europe.
References:
Chodat, R. 1897. Algues pélagiques nouvelles. Bulletin de l'Herbier Boissier 5: 119-120. Guiry, M.D. and G.M. Guiry 2013. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 15 January 2013. Korshikov, O. 1953. Vtznachnyk prisnovodnykh vdorostej Ukrajns'koj RSR. [Vyp] V. Pidklas Protokokovi (Protococcineae). Vakuol'ni (Vacuolales) ta Protokokovi (Protococcales) [The Freshwater Algae of the Ukranian SSR. V. Subclass Protococcineae. Vacuolales and Protococcales]. pp. 439. Kyjv [Kiev]: Akad. Nauk URSR. Walton, L.B. (1918). Eutetramorus globosus, a new genus and species of algae belonging to the Protococcoidea (Family Coelastridae). Ohio Journal of Science18: 126-128.