| Dicranochaete | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Dicranochaete reniformis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Clade: | Viridiplantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Chlorophyceae |
| Order: | Chaetopeltidales |
| Family: | Dicranochaetaceae Bourrelly ex P.C.Sillva |
| Genus: | Dicranochaete Heironymus, 1887 |
| Type species | |
| Dicranochaete britannica | |
| Species [1] | |
Dicranochaete is a genus of green algae in the order Chaetopeltidales. It is the only genus in the family Dicranochaetaceae. [1] It is a rare genus, found as an epiphyte on aquatic plants and algae in freshwater habitats. [2] One species is terrestrial, having been described from the soil of a spruce forest. [3]
Dicranochaete consists of single cells or a few cells clustered together, attached to a substrate. Cells are hemispherical or ellipsoidal in side view. The apical portion of the cells are covered by a hood-like structure, which may be spiny, [4] and has one or more bristles, [2] also termed setae. The seta is hollow and dichotomously branched. [4] Each cell has a cup-shaped, parietal chloroplast with or without pyrenoids. [2] Usually two contractile vacuoles are present in the basal part of the cell. [4] Asexual reproduction occurs by the formation of biflagellate zoospores; sexual reproduction is by biflagellate gametes, which fuse to form a quadriflagellate zygote. [2]
Species are distinguished from each other based on the morphology of the cap-like structure, and the number of bristles. Other morphological characters such as the size and shape of the cells are variable and less reliable for identification. [5]
Dicranochaete typically occurs in acidic, oligotrophic waters such as peat bogs, often those covered with Sphagnum moss. [5] It has evolved several traits that are adaptive to living in these low-nutrient environments, such as the presence of long setae to increase surface area for nutrient absorption, and the presence of a spiny cap for protection. [4]
