Radiofilum | |
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Scientific classification | |
Clade: | Viridiplantae |
Division: | Chlorophyta |
Class: | Chlorophyceae |
Order: | Sphaeropleales |
Family: | Sphaeropleaceae |
Genus: | Radiofilum Schmidle, 1894 |
Species | |
Radiofilum is a genus of green algae in the class Chlorophyceae.[1] It is a freshwater genus; they are often found in soft, boggy or acidic waters.[2]
Radiofilum consists of unbranched filaments of cells, surrounded by a very thin mucilage layer. Cells are bead-like, spherical or compressed. The cell wall consists of two halves, and there is a ring around the middle of the cell where the two halves are joined. Cells contain a chloroplast is parietal and contains one or more pyrenoids.[2]
The genus Radiofilum as currently circumscribed appears to be a polyphyletic grouping of species. Some work has been done to transfer species to other genera,[3] including Interfilum[3] and Flintia.[4] The type species, Radiofilum conjunctivum, belongs to the class Trebouxiophyceae and is phylogenetically close to the genus Microthamnion.[3]