Ulothrix
Encyclopedia
In taxonomy
, Ulothrix is a genus
of algae
, specifically of the Ulotrichaceae
.
Ulothrix is a genus of filamentous green algae
, generally found in fresh
and marine water. Its cells are normally as broad as they are long, and they thrive in the low temperatures of spring and winter. They become attached to surfaces by a modified holdfast cell. Reproduction is normally vegetative
. They are Eukaryotic and unicellular. They are one of the 5 classes of microorganisms.
Each cell has a single girdle-like and parietal chloroplast and two to many pyrenoids are present in each chloroplast
. Food reserves are accumulated within the akinetes. When the conditions are favourable each akinete develops into a new plant.
Alpha taxonomy
Alpha taxonomy is the discipline concerned with finding, describing and naming species of living or fossil organisms. This field is supported by institutions holding collections of these organisms, with relevant data, carefully curated: such institutes include natural history museums, herbaria and...
, Ulothrix is a genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of algae
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
, specifically of the Ulotrichaceae
Ulotrichaceae
In taxonomy, the Ulotrichaceae are a family of algae, specifically of the Ulotrichales....
.
Ulothrix is a genus of filamentous green algae
Green algae
The green algae are the large group of algae from which the embryophytes emerged. As such, they form a paraphyletic group, although the group including both green algae and embryophytes is monophyletic...
, generally found in fresh
Fresh Water
Fresh Water is the debut album by Australian rock and blues singer Alison McCallum, released in 1972. Rare for an Australian artist at the time, it came in a gatefold sleeve...
and marine water. Its cells are normally as broad as they are long, and they thrive in the low temperatures of spring and winter. They become attached to surfaces by a modified holdfast cell. Reproduction is normally vegetative
Vegetative reproduction
Vegetative reproduction is a form of asexual reproduction in plants. It is a process by which new individuals arise without production of seeds or spores...
. They are Eukaryotic and unicellular. They are one of the 5 classes of microorganisms.
Structure
The plant body consists of unbranched, uniseriate filaments. The cells of the filaments are arranged end to end. They are rectangular or somewhat square in shape. The apical cell is somewhat rounded at its terminal end whereas the basal cell is elongated and does not have chlorophyll. It is also called the basal holdfast, which attaches the filament to the substratum.Each cell has a single girdle-like and parietal chloroplast and two to many pyrenoids are present in each chloroplast
Reproduction
Reproduction in Ulothrix takes place by means of vegetative, asexual and sexual methods.Vegetative reproduction
The common vegetative methods of reproduction are fragmentation and akinete formation.Fragmentation
Vegetative cells of Ulothrix break into small pieces accidentally. Each fragment develops into a new filament.Akinete formation
Some of the vegetative cells of Ulothrix are converted into thick walled akinetesAkinete
An akinete is a thick-walled dormant cell derived from the enlargement of a vegetative cell. It serves as a survival structure. It is a resting cell of cyanobacteria and unicellular and filamentous green algae. Under magnification, akinetes appear thick walled with granular-looking cytoplasms....
. Food reserves are accumulated within the akinetes. When the conditions are favourable each akinete develops into a new plant.