Aegagropila

Aegagropila
Aegagropila linnaei in Lake Akan in Japan
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Chlorophyta
Class: Ulvophyceae
Order: Cladophorales
Family: Pithophoraceae
Genus: Aegagropila
Kützing
Type species
Aegagropila brownii
(Dillwyn) Kützing[1]
Species
  • Aegagropila brownii
  • Aegagropila globulus
  • Aegagropila kannoi
  • Aegagropila leprieurii
  • Aegagropila montagneana
  • Aegagropila montagnei

Aegagropila is a genus of green algae in the family Pithophoraceae.[1] It is found in freshwater habitats in across the Northern Hemisphere.[2]

Aegagropila consists of densely branched, uniseriate filaments, forming spherical aggregates, solid or hollow balls, or tufts and cushions attached to a substrate. Branches grow off the side (laterally) or just below the tip of the cell (subterminally); older cells may produce a second or third branch. Older cells are often irregularly club-shaped, with many branches. Basal poles of cells may produce rhizoids that can attach to other filaments. Each chloroplast has many pyrenoids.[2]

Aegagropila is morphologically similar to, and sometimes indistinguishable from the genus Aegagropilopsis.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. "Aegagropila". AlgaeBase. University of Galway. Retrieved 2025-09-16.
  2. ^ a b c Škaloud, Pavel; Rindi, Fabio; Boedeker, Christian; Leliaert, Frederik (2018). Chlorophyta: Ulvophyceae. Süßwasserflora von Mitteleuropa. Vol. 13. Berlin, Germany: Springer Spektrum. pp. i–x, 1–289. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-55495-1. ISBN 978-3-662-55494-4.