Willea

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Willea
Willea rectangularis mosbo6.jpg
Willea rectangularis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Clade: Viridiplantae
Division: Chlorophyta
Class: Trebouxiophyceae
Order: Chlorellales
Family: Oocystaceae
Genus: Willea
Schmidle [1]
Species

Westella is a genus of green algae in the family Oocystaceae. It is found in freshwater habitats such as ponds and lakes, as part of the phytoplankton. [1] It has a cosmopolitan distribution. [2]

Willea consists of four-celled (rarely two-celled) colonies (termed coenobia); the coenobia may be aggregated to form compound colonies of 100 cells or more, arranged in a single plane. The cells are oval to cylindrical, arranged in a rectangle forming a rhomboidal gap. The cell walls are smooth. Cells are uninucleate, and contain a single parietal chloroplast; the chloroplast has a pyrenoid but this may be difficult to observe. [1] Asexual reproduction occurs by the formation of autospores, which are organized into coenobia; they enlarge with the cell wall, which eventually dissolves, releasing the new cells. Sexual reproduction and flagellated stages are not known in this genus. [1]

A number of species formerly included in the genus Crucigeniella are now placed in Willea; the name Crucigeniella is illegitimate. [2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. "Willea". AlgaeBase . University of Galway . Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  2. 1 2 Bicudo, Carlos E. M.; Menezes, Mariângela (2006). Gêneros de Algas de Águas Continentais do Brasil: chave para identificação e descrições (2 ed.). RiMa Editora. p. 508. ISBN   857656064X.