Detail of chloroplast and pyrenoids

Description:

Detail of the junction of three cells of a coenobium of the chlorophycean, Hydrodictyon reticulatum (Lagerheim, 1894.The tubular coenobia have walls composed of a meshwork of cells whose interspaces are bordered by 5 or 6 cells (five in this case). Coenobia may form nets up to 2 feet in length.The cylindrical cells are uninucleate when toung and become multinucleate as they age. the plastid is peripheral and reticulate in older cells. there are many pyrenoids (seen here). Biflagellate zoospores released within the mother cell wall may may aggregate to form a mini meshwork that is ultimately released as a new coenobium.Collected from a temporary freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. August 2005.DIC.