| Pseudopediastrum | |
|---|---|
|   | |
| 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]