Nitella flexilis

Nitella flexilis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Charophyta
Class: Charophyceae
Order: Charales
Family: Characeae
Genus: Nitella
Species: N. flexilis
Binomial name
Nitella flexilis
(L.) C.Agardh[1]

Nitella flexilis is a freshwater[2] species of characean algae that is used as a model organism for its large cell size and relative ease of cultivation in the laboratory.

Description

A robust species growing up to a meter long with axes up to 1mm wide. Branches in whorls once or twice divided.[3]

Distribution

The species has been recorded from several counties in Ireland. From the Eglinton Canal in Galway;[4]and in Counties Down and Londonderry;[5]River Dorree in Clare Island Co. Mayo 2004.[6]

References

  1. Straminipilous Fungi: Systematics of the Peronosporomycetes, Including Sccounts of the Marine Dtraminipilous ProtIsts, the Plasmodiophorids, and Similar Organisms. Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers. 2001. ISBN 0-7923-6780-4.
  2. "Nitella flexilis (Linnaeus) C. Agardh". Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  3. Ed. Guiry, M.D., John, D.M., Rindi, F. and McCarthy, T.K. 2007. New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 6: The Freshwater and Terrestrial Algae. Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 978-1-904890-31-7
  4. Pybus, C. and O'Halloran. P. 2009. Distribution of some submerged aquatic macrophytes in the Eglinton Canal, Galway, Ir. Nat. J. 30: 51 - 53
  5. Morton, O. in Hackney, P. 1992. The Flora of the North-east of Ireland. Institute of Irish Studies and The Queen's University Belfast. ISBN 0-85389-446-9
  6. Ed. Guiry, M.D., John, D.M., Rindi, F. and McCarthy, T.K. 2007. New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 6: The Freshwater and Terrestrial Algae. Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 978-1-904890-31-7