Pseudopediastrum | |
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Pseudopediastrum boryanum | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Division: | Chlorophyta |
Class: | Chlorophyceae |
Order: | Sphaeropleales |
Family: | Hydrodictyaceae |
Genus: | Pseudopediastrum E.Hegewald, 2005 |
Type species | |
Pseudopediastrum boryanum (Turp.) E.Hegewald [1] | |
Species | |
Pseudopediastrum is a genus of green algae in the family Hydrodictyaceae. [2] It is very common in freshwater regions throughout the world. [3]
Pseudopediastrum forms flat colonies, termed coenobia, of cells in powers of two, usually four, eight, 16, or 32. Coenobia are disc-shaped in outline, and marginal cells are drawn out into two lobes or points. Cells have one chloroplast filling the cell, each with a single pyrenoid. [4] In most species, the cells are contiguous without gaps between them, but this is not always the case. Important identifying characteristics include cell shape and cell wall granulation. [5]
In 2005, molecular phylogenetic analyses showed that Pediastrum sensu lato was paraphyletic with respect to Hydrodictyon . Therefore, Pediastrum was split up into several genera, including Pseudopediastrum. [1] However, the genus Pseudopediastrum is still not monophyletic, in particular the morphologically diverse species Pseudopediastrum boryanum . Therefore, the genus is still in need of a revision. [6]