Coccomyxa

Coccomyxa is a genus of colony-forming green algae from the class of Chlorophyceae. They often occur as a symbiotic partner in lichens.

Features

The representatives form colonies of immobile cells that are enclosed in a jelly. The individual cells are elliptical and wear a parietal chloroplast, which has no pyrenoid. The surrounding jelly is irregular and shows no concentric layering. Within the curd, the cells are arranged irregularly. The cells are 2 to 20 microns in size.

Asexual reproduction occurs by the formation of 2-8 car spores within the cell wall of the mother cell. Sexual reproduction is unknown at Coccomyxa.

Occurrence

Coccomyxa occurs in the plankton of larger freshwater lakes. However, the majority of species live on tree bark and stone surfaces. These species are algae as a partner and lichen symbioses.

System

The genus comprises Coccomyxa by AlgaeBase 21 recognized species.

Documents

• K.-H. Linne von Berg, K. Hoef -Emden, B. Marin, M. Melkonian: The Cosmos algae leader. The main freshwater algae under the microscope. Kosmos, Stuttgart 2004, pp. 172, ISBN 3-440-09719-6