portrait

Description:

Kirchneriella (keyrsh-ner-ell-a) in which cells occur individually (particularly in cultures) or in colonies 4-16, rarely more, cells within gelatinous sheaths. Cells oval or oblong cylindrically, curved or screw-shaped curved. Both ends of the cells are rounded. A single chloroplast covers the inside of the cell and contains a single pyrenoid. The nucleus is located centrally near the concavity of the cell. Common in plankton of fresh water in lakes, ponds and rivers. This slightly squashed colony of Kirchneriella lunaris was collected in the plankton from Lake Constance, Germany. Cells average 16 - 19 (microns long. Cells are bent or moon shaped. Differential interference contrast.