Botryococcus Temporal range: Precambrian - Recent >
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Botryococcus braunii | |
Scientific classification | |
(unranked): | Viridiplantae |
Division: | Chlorophyta |
Class: | Trebouxiophyceae |
Order: | Trebouxiales |
Family: | Botryococcaceae |
Genus: | Botryococcus Kützing, 1849 |
Type species | |
Botryococcus braunii | |
Species[1] | |
See text |
Botryococcus is a genus of green algae. The cells form an irregularly shaped aggregate. Thin filaments connect the cells. The cell body is ovoid, 6 to 10 μm long, and 3 to 6 μm wide. Fossils of the genus are known since Precambrian times, and form the single largest biological contributor to crude oil, and are a major component of oil shales.[2]
The genus and its holotype were described in 1849 by Friedrich Traugott Kützing.[3]
Appears as colonies of cells irregularly arranges cells in a folded mucilage. Cells spherical or oval, chloroplast net-like with a single pyrenoid.[4]
The algae is frequently found in plankton in waters with differing characteristics and a wide geographic distribution. It is an important component of algal blooms and the discoloration of water.[5] It is known to reproduce asexually but zoospores and sexual reproduction are unknown.[1]
There are 13 accepted species in the genus.[1]