Chlorococcum is a genus of green algae, in the family Chlorococcaceae. The alga may be useful in the flocculation of lipids from wastewater. It can be found in fresh water, but is more commonly found in soil or subaerial habitats (such as growing on tree bark, wood, stones, or plaster).
Chlorococcum consists of spherical cells which are single or sometimes borne in small clusters; when colonial, there is sometimes a thin layer of mucilage. Cells contain a single cup-shaped, parietal chloroplast with one pyrenoid.
Chlorococcum reproduces by the formation of autospores or zoospores. The zoospores have two flagella of equal length. Chlorococcum was traditionally defined using morphological characteristics. However, using molecular phylogenetics, the genus was found to be polyphyletic. Therefore, the genus was revised, with several new genera split off (e.g. Alvikia).
Species , AlgaeBase accepted the following species: Chlorococcum acidum P.A.Archibald & Bold Chlorococcum aegyptiacum P.A.Archibald Chlorococcum aerium (R.M.Brown & Bold) Wanatabe & Lewis Chlorococcum africanum Reinsch Chlorococcum amblystomatis (F.D.Lambert ex N.Wille) N.Correia, J.Varela & Leonel Pereira Chlorococcum aquaticum P.A.Archibald Chlorococcum botryoides (Kützing) Rabenhorst Chlorococcum chlorococcoides (Korshikov) Philipose Chlorococcum choloepodis (J.Kühn) D.E.Wujek & P.Timpano Chlorococcum citriforme P.A.Archibald & Bold Chlorococcum costatozygotum Ettl & Gärtner Chlorococcum diplobionticum Herndon Chlorococcum echinozygotum R.C.Starr Chlorococcum elbense P.A.Archibald Chlorococcum elkhartiense P.A.Archibald & Bold Chlorococcum ellipsoideum Deason & Bold Chlorococcum endozoicum Collins Chlorococcum fissum P.A.Archibald & Bold Chlorococcum hypnosporum Starr Chlorococcum infusionum (Schrank) Meneghini Chlorococcum isabeliense P.A.Archibald & Bold Chlorococcum lobatum (Korshikov) F.E.Fritsch & R.P.John Chlorococcum macropyrenoidosum (Deason & Ed.R.Cox) Shin Watanabe & L.A.Lewis Chlorococcum macrostigmatum R.C.Starr Chlorococcum microstigmatum P.A.Archibald & Bold Chlorococcum minimum Ettl & Gärtner Chlorococcum minutum R.C.Starr Chlorococcum nivale P.A.Archibald Chlorococcum novae-angliae P.A.Archibald & Bold Chlorococcum oleofaciens Trainor & Bold Chlorococcum olivaceum (Rabenhorst) Rabenhorst Chlorococcum pamirum P.A.Archibald Chlorococcum papillatum Demczenko Chlorococcum pinguideum Arce & Bold Chlorococcum pleiopyrenigerum (L.Moewus) Ettl & Gärtner Chlorococcum pseudodictyosphaerium Metting Chlorococcum pyrenoidosum P.A.Archibald Chlorococcum rugosum P.A.Archibald & Bold Chlorococcum salinum Archibald Chlorococcum schizochlamys (Korshikov) Philipose Chlorococcum schwarzii Ettl & Gärtner Chlorococcum sphagni P.A.Dangeard Chlorococcum submarinum Ålvik Chlorococcum tatrense P.A.Archibald Chlorococcum turfosum (Shin Watanabe & L.A.Lewis) Nakada, Shin Watanabe & L.A.Lewis Chlorococcum vacuolatum R.C.Starr Chlorococcum vitiosum Printz
References
External links
AlgaTerra database Index Nominum Genericorum