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Diagnostic features

Small balloon- or pear- shaped chrysophycean cells, each with two golden chloroplasts, packed together in roundish motile colonies. Each cell has two flagella projecting outwards from the colony, and a stalk directed inward toward the colony centre. Each cell is surrounded by spirally arranged, colourless scales (needs high magnification to see).

Typical habitats

Ponds and lakes with moderate to good water quality

Classification

Kingdom Chromista
Phylum Ochrophyta
Class Chrysophyceae
Order Synurales
Family Synuraceae
Common name Golden-brown algae