Landcare Research - Manaaki Whenua

Landcare-Research -Manaaki Whenua

Algal factsheet: Coelastrum (Radiococcaceae)


Diagnostic features

Colonial chlorophyte with roundish cells arranged in spherical colonies. The arrangement of cells is regular rather than haphazard.  Cells may have a slight conical bulge facing outward from the colony, and are joined by outgrowths of the cell walls.  Each cell contains a cup-shaped parietal green chloroplast with a pyrenoid.  Colonies are hollow in the centre but this may not be visible if the cells are tightly packed together.

Typical habitats

Found in the plankton of nutrient-rich ponds including sewage ponds

Classification

Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Chlorophyta
Class Chlorophyceae
Order Chlamydomonadales
Family Radiococcaceae
Common name Green algae