Follicularia
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| Follicularia | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Clade: | Viridiplantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Chlorophyceae |
| Order: | Sphaeropleales |
| Family: | Schizochlamydaceae |
| Genus: | Follicularia V.V.Miller, 1924 |
| Type species | |
| Follicularia paradoxalis V.V.Miller[1] | |
| Species[1] | |
Follicularia is a genus of green algae, in the family Schizochlamydaceae.[1] It is found in terrestrial habitats, mainly soil.[2]
Follicularia consists of single cells or groups of cells. Cells are spherical, with a smooth cell wall. Young cells contain a single parietal chloroplast with a pyrenoid; later, adult cells contain many conical to prismatic chloroplasts lining the insides of the cell membrane. Asexual reproduction occurs via zoospores with two flagella, or aplanospores.[2]
The genus Follicularia is morphologically similar to Planktosphaeria, a genus that is traditionally defined as producing autospores instead of zoospores. Additionally, species matching the morphological description of Follicularia have been found to be of polyphyletic origins; some species have been transferred to the new genus, Herndonia.[3]