Scherffelia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Scherffelia | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Chlorodendrophyceae |
| Order: | Chlorodendrales |
| Family: | Chlorodendraceae |
| Genus: | Scherffelia Pascher |
| Type species | |
| Scherffelia dubia (Perty) Pascher[1] | |
Scherffelia is a genus of green algae in the family Chlorodendraceae.[2] It is widespread in freshwater, brackish, and marine habitats,[1] but is often overlooked due to its small size.[3]
The genus was circumscribed by Adolf A. Pascher in Lotos vol.59 on page 341 in 1911.
The genus name of Scherffelia is in honour of Aladár Scherffel (1865–1938), who was a Hungarian botanist (Algology) and mycologist.[4]
Scherffelia is a unicellular organism. The cells are ovoid or ellipsoid, strongly flattened and sometimes somewhat twisted along their longitudinal axes. The anterior apex has a small depression from which four equal flagella emerge. The cell is surrounded by a wall (termed a theca) composed of fused organic scales, which may be reddish in color. The lateral margins of the theca are winged.[1][5]
Cells contain a single central nucleus and two (rarely three) contractile vacuoles) at the anterior. There are two chloroplasts, which lack pyrenoids. An eyespot (stigma) is usually present.[1][3]
Scherffelia swims while rotating along its longitudinal axis; it travels in a straight line but may abruptly change its direction.[3]
