Algal Morphology Unicells- solitary cells can be motile or non motile

ex. Chlamydomonas
I. Internal thallus morphologies
II. External thallus morphologies
III.Algal Growth

Colony- an assemblage of individual cells, variable or

predictable number of cells, flagellated or non motile

coenobium- predictable number

and arrangement of cells
ex. Volvox

Filamentous- daughter cells remain attached to each other Coenocytic/ Siphononous one large multi-nucleate cell
following cell division forming a chain of cells lacking crosswalls
Uniseriate- cells occuring in a single row

Utricles -swollen, terminal

end of the siphon

Multiseriate- consisting of
several rows of cells in a
longitudinal seriesin one or Codium
two planes

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 Limited cell differentiation compared to terrestrial plants

Coenocytic thallus construction - Terrestrial Leaf Algal blade

What does this allow?

Chloroplast movement

What special issues does it raise?

Herbivory healing
Well developed cytoskeleton
Repairs membrane in 1-2 seconds
cuticle Cortex-pigmented cortical cells
parenchyma (palisade, spongy)
veins
epidermal
guard cells Medulla unpigmented medullary cells
stomates

Parenchyma undifferentiated, isodiometric cells Pseudoparenchym a- form of thallus composed of interwoven

generated by a meristem continuous filaments, superficially resembles
parenchyma
Cells division in any plane , not filamentous Sarcodiotheca

Filaments

Hypnea

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 Polysiphonous composed of tiers of vertically elongated
cells, transversely arranged, the lateral cells around a
central axis (siphon)
Reds only
Parenchymatous vs. Pseudoparenchymat ous central cell surrounded by 4 or more pericentral cells

Polysiphonia
Petalonia

Mazzaella

Cortication elaboration of polysiphonous condition where pericentral

cells continue to proliferate

Filament
Ceramium nitens Ceramium
(Central Tissue)

Cortical Cells
(Banded Pattern)
Cortical Cells
(Outer Tissue)

Partial Cortication
Complete Cortication

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 Algal morphology:
II. External thallus morphologies
sori

Can affect:
thallus blade
- Photosynthesis

- Nutrient uptake stipe

- Resistance to herbivory
holdfast
- Resistance to physical disturbance (e.g. wave stress)

Chaetomorpha
Filamentous

branching forms
non-branching forms

Filamentous

Chaetomorpha
Cladophora Derbesia

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 Foliose = a sheet of cells, blade like, no stipe
Monostromatic one cell thick
Distromatic - two cells thick
Polystromatic many cells thick

Petrospongium
Petrocelis stage

Prostrate / Procumbent: trailing on the ground

Ulva

Ralfsia
Hildenbrandia

Bladed- flattened leaf like thallus, may have a stipe

Stipitate = has a stipe

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 Saccate = sac-like Pneumatocysts-
-a large float containing gas found in heterokontophyta
-provide buoyancy to lift the blades toward the surface,
allowing them to receive more sunlight for Ps
- can hold O2, CO2, CO

Botryocladia
Cystoseria osmundacea Sargassum muticum
Halosaccion -catenate series -singly

Midrib-thickened longitudinal axis of flattened

Midvein-a delicate median line of cells,
branch or blade
the blade is thicker through this region

Alaria fistulosa

Undaria sp.

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Tubular- tube of cells, hollow in center Geniculate corallines

Geniculum
(flexible joint)

Intergeniculum
(hard part
between genicula)

upright

articulated

geniculate Calliarthron cheiliosporiodes

Non-geniculate corallines Branched- axillary divisions

crustose

encrusting

non - geniculate

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 Dichotomous/Bi fur cate

Pectinate/Secund Whorled/Verticillate

Pinnate-feather-like, regular branching

Monopodial-havi ng a distinct main axis of continuous
Distichous-branchi ng on both side of the axis, irregular
growth & giving off branchlets
Opposite Alternate

Sympodial- apparent main axis does not extend by continuous

growth

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 III. Algal growth
Holdfast Characteristics

apical

holdfast

intercallary

basal

stoloniferous/rhizoidal
hapterous

Where on the algal thallus does cell division occur?

Meristem = area of cell division and growth
discoid

Multiaxial- several longitudinal medullary filaments,

Apical growth =Apical cell or apical meristem each derived from an apical cell

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Uniaxial- one longitudinal central filament forming the axis

Apical around margin

Intercalary

Intercalary growth
Diffuse growth =
No defined area of cell division or growth;
occurs throughout the thallus

transition zone

Growth in both directions away from meristem

Usually between stipe and blade (or blade and pneumatocyst)

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 Heterotrichous growth filamentous growth in 2 directions, results
Trichothallic Growth: Cells divide to form hair (filament) in thallus composed of both prostrate + erect components
above and thallus below
(in this case, psuedoparenchymatous polysiphonous)

Polysiphonia
Filaments Upright Form

Thallus

Prostrate Form
(Crustose, spreading)
Lithophyllum congestum

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