Gloeocystis

Gloeocystis sp.

Gloeocystis 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 groups of cells that are embedded in a layered jelly. The roundish to elongated single cells have a single, centrally located nucleus, and a single chloroplast with pyrenoid marginal. Starch is stored within the plastids.

Asexual reproduction is effected by the formation of 2 to 8, often 16 car spores within the cell wall of the parent cell. Larger colonies can decay. Sexual reproduction is unknown at Gloeocystis.

Occurrence

Gloeocystis occurs from standing water and on damp substrates, such as rocks, wood, and earth in the plankton. These species are algae as a partner and lichen symbioses.

System

The genus comprises Gloeocystis by AlgaeBase nine 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. 176, ISBN 3-440-09719-6