Raphidocelis

Raphidocelis is a genus of green algae in the family Selenastraceae.^[2] They are found in freshwater habitats.^[3]

Raphidocelis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Chlorophyta
Class:	Chlorophyceae
Order:	Sphaeropleales
Family:	Selenastraceae
Genus:	Raphidocelis Hindák
Type species
Raphidocelis sigmoidea Hindák
Species[1]
Raphidocelis arcuata Raphidocelis danubiana Raphidocelis extensa Raphidocelis inclinata Raphidocelis mayorii Raphidocelis microscopica Raphidocelis mucosa Raphidocelis pseudomucosa Raphidocelis roselata Raphidocelis rotunda Raphidocelis sigmoidea Raphidocelis subcapitata Raphidocelis turfosa Raphidocelis valida Raphidocelis van-goorii

One species, Raphidocelis subcapitata, is a common model organism in the field of toxicology, where it is used as a bioassay. It was previously known as Selenastrum capricornutum, a name later shown to be incorrect.^[4]

Description

Raphidocelis consists of solitary cells or of colonies of cells within a thin layer of mucilage. Cells are crescent-shaped, with pointed ends that may be twisted out of the plane of the cell. Each cell contains a single parietal chloroplast filling the cell.^[3] Raphidocelis is sometimes reported as lacking a pyrenoid; it does indeed contain one, although it is not covered in layer of starch grains making it often difficult to observe under the light microscope.^[4]

Raphidocelis reproduces asexually by autospores; zoospores and sexual reproduction have not been observed in this genus.^[1]