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Tribonema (Tribonemataceae)

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Diagnostic features

Unbranched xanthophycean filaments one cell wide, with cell walls made of overlapping H-shaped pieces (may require a broken cell, e.g. at the end of a filament, to be seen). Each cell has 2 or more disc-like yellow-green chloroplasts (cf. Microspora, which has a single net-like chloroplast per cell).

[Tribonema], Lake Tuakitoto, X640. Photo: Otago Regional Council & Manaaki Whenua Image
Tribonema, Lake Tuakitoto, X640. Photo: Otago Regional Council & Manaaki Whenua
[Tribonema], X1000. Photo: Phil Novis, Manaaki Whenua Image
Tribonema, X1000. Photo: Phil Novis, Manaaki Whenua

Typical habitats

Most common in lakes, ponds and slow-flowing waters

Classification

Kingdom Chromista
Phylum Ochrophyta
Class Xanthophyceae
Order Tribonematales
Family Tribonemataceae
Common name Yellow-green algae