Pseudopediastrum
Genus of algae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pseudopediastrum is a genus of green algae in the family Hydrodictyaceae.[2] It is very common in freshwater regions throughout the world.[3]
| Pseudopediastrum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Pseudopediastrum boryanum | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Chlorophyceae |
| Order: | Sphaeropleales |
| Family: | Hydrodictyaceae |
| Genus: | Pseudopediastrum E.Hegewald, 2005 |
| Type species | |
| Pseudopediastrum boryanum (Turp.) E.Hegewald[1] | |
| Species | |
| |
Description
Pseudopediastrum forms flat colonies, termed coenobia, of cells in powers of two, usually four, eight, 16, or 32. Coenobia are disc-shaped in outline, and marginal cells are drawn out into two lobes or points. Cells have one chloroplast filling the cell, each with a single pyrenoid.[4] In most species, the cells are contiguous without gaps between them, but this is not always the case. Important identifying characteristics include cell shape and cell wall granulation.[5]
Taxonomy
In 2005, molecular phylogenetic analyses showed that Pediastrum sensu lato was paraphyletic with respect to Hydrodictyon. Therefore, Pediastrum was split up into several genera, including Pseudopediastrum.[1] However, the genus Pseudopediastrum is still not monophyletic, in particular the morphologically diverse species Pseudopediastrum boryanum. Therefore, the genus is still in need of a revision.[6]
