Division | Chlorophyta |
Class | Chlorophyceae |
Order | Sphaeropleales |
Family | Hydrodictyaceae |
Colonies spherical, free floating, consisting of 4, 8,16 or 32 cells, cells rhomboidal, reniform, cuneate, three sided and radiately united at the center to a gelatinous sphere by a short stalk from basal side, outer side of cells with two short, 1-4 stout outwardly directed spines. Chloroplast covering most of wall with a pyrenoid. Cells 8-20 μm wide, 6-18 μm long, 5-8 μm thick, spines 4-8 μm long.
Ecology
Found in freshwater plankton in lakes, agricultural reservoirs, swamps and ponds.
Distribution in India
Assam; Bombay, Maharashtra; Cuttack, Odisha; Hyderabad, Telangana; West Bengal.