Colacium
Genus of algae
Colacium is a genus of algae belonging to the family Euglenaceae. It has two phases: a motile phase and a sessile phase, where it is found attached to other freshwater organisms.
The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution.
01Description
Colacium is a single-celled or colonial organisms. Cells are small, about 20-40 μm, and are similar to that of Euglena, and are metabolic with parietal, lobed chloroplasts each with a pyrenoid, and monomorphic, small paramylon grains. In its typical sessile phase, the cells are attached to a substrate via a mucilaginous stalk or short pillow. Cells divide to form colonies where the cells are attached by branched, dendroidal stalks.
Cells of Colacium can grow a flagellum and become motile, escaping from the colony as a free-swimming cell.
Species:
- Colacium arbuscula Stein, 1878
- Colacium mucronatum Bourr. & Chadef.
- Colacium sideropus Skuja
- Colacium simplex Hub.-Pest.
- Colacium steinii Kent
- Colacium vesiculosum Ehrenberg, 1838
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Colacium”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Colacium vesiculosum 166854747.jpg by crseaquist, CC BY 4.0
Fathomly is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Wikimedia Foundation. Spotted a problem? Tell us.