Selenastraceae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Selenastraceae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ankistrodesmus spiralis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Chlorophyceae |
| Order: | Sphaeropleales |
| Family: | Selenastraceae Blackman & Tansley |
| Genera[1] | |
Selenastraceae is a family of green algae in the order Sphaeropleales.[2] Members of this family are common components of the phytoplankton in freshwater habitats worldwide. A few species have been found in brackish and marine habitats, such as in the Baltic Sea.[3]
The family Selenastraceae includes solitary cells or colonies of cells. Cells are diverse in morphology; they may be coccoid to spindle-shaped in shape, with rounded or pointed ends. They may be sickle-shaped or spirally curved. Cells contain a chloroplast with a pyrenoid. Except in the genus Chlorolobion, the pyrenoid lacks a starch covering, making it difficult to observe using light microscopy.[3] Cells range in size from 5 to 105 μm in length and 1.5 to 6.5 μm in width.[4]
Algae in this family reproduce asexually, exclusively by autospores. A distinguishing characteristic of this family is the method of autospore formation: the protoplast divides serially, with divisions being perpendicular to the longer axis of the cell. Once divided, the daughter cells realign to become parallel with the daughter cell, and are then released.[5]
