Chlorophyta: Chlorophyceae: Chlorococcales: Scenedesmaceae

Scenedesmus

Family: Colonies of fixed number of cells (4, 8, 16, 32, or more) arranged 2- or 3-dimensionally; cells spherical, ellipsoidal, polygonal, etc. in shape; chloroplasts 1 or several, plate-like in shape, with 1 pyrenoid; reproduction only by asexual autospores.
Genus: Colonies of 4 (or 2, 8, 16) cells attached side by side, arranged linearly or zigzag; cell body elliptical or spindle or crescent in shape; terminal cells with spiny projections in many species; cell wall usually smooth, but in some species granulated or dented or ridged (Illustrations of The Japanese Fresh-water Algae, 1977).


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