Biology:Willea
| Willea | |
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| Willea rectangularis | |
Scientific classification 
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| (unranked): | Viridiplantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Trebouxiophyceae |
| Order: | Chlorellales |
| Family: | Oocystaceae |
| Genus: | Willea Schmidle[1] |
| Species | |
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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
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. (2008). "Willea". AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/browse/taxonomy/?id=46424.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bicudo, Carlos E. M.; Menezes, Mariângela (2006). Gêneros de Algas de Águas Continentais do Brasil: chave para identificação e descrições (2 ed.). RiMa Editora. pp. 508. ISBN 857656064X.
Wikidata ☰ Q55637678 entry
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