''Ulothrix'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

green algae The green algae (singular: green alga) are a group consisting of the Prasinodermophyta and its unnamed sister which contains the Chlorophyta and Charophyta/ Streptophyta. The land plants (Embryophytes) have emerged deep in the Charophyte alga ...

in the family

Ulotrichaceae Ulotrichaceae is a family of green algae The green algae (singular: green alga) are a group consisting of the Prasinodermophyta and its unnamed sister which contains the Chlorophyta and Charophyta/Streptophyta. The land plants (Embryophytes) ...

. ''Ulothrix'' is a genus of non-branching filamentous

, generally found in fresh and

marine Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean. Marine or marines may refer to: Ocean * Maritime (disambiguation) * Marine art * Marine biology * Marine debris * Marine habitats * Marine life * Marine pollution Military ...

water. Its cells are normally as broad as they are long, and they thrive in the low temperatures of spring and winter. They become attached to surfaces by a modified holdfast cell.

Reproduction Reproduction (or procreation or breeding) is the biological process by which new individual organisms – "offspring" – are produced from their "parent" or parents. Reproduction is a fundamental feature of all known life; each individual or ...

is normally vegetative. They are Eukaryotic and multicellular because the cells have specific functions as the lowermost cell serves as holdfast and it doesn't have chloroplast, and the apical cell is dome-shaped. The genus includes: * ''

Ulothrix aequalis ''Ulothrix ''Ulothrix'' is a genus of green algae in the family Ulotrichaceae. ''Ulothrix'' is a genus of non-branching filamentous green algae, generally found in fresh and marine water. Its cells are normally as broad as they are long, ...

'' KützingGuiry, M.D., John, D.M., Rindi, F and McCarthy, T.K. (ed.) 2007. ''New Survey of Clare Island Volume: The Freshwater and Terrestrial Algae''. Royal Irish Academy. . * ''Ulothrix moniliformis'' Kützing * ''

Ulothrix flacca ''Ulothrix flacca'' is a small filamentous marine algae. Description This species grows as small tufts of green unbranched filaments growing to no more than 10 cm long forming woolly masses. Cells 14.4 - 32.6μm broad and 4.8-9.6μm Newton, L. 193 ...

'' (Dillwyn) Thuret in Le JolisBurrows, E.M. 1991. ''Seaweeds of the British Isles Volume 2: Chlorophyta''. Natural History Museum, London . * ''

Ulothrix implexa ''Ulothrix'' is a genus of green algae in the family Ulotrichaceae. ''Ulothrix'' is a genus of non-branching filamentous green algae, generally found in fresh and marine water. Its cells are normally as broad as they are long, and they thrive ...

'' (Kützing) Kützing * ''

Ulothrix speciosa ''Ulothrix speciosa'' is a small green marine alga. Description This small green alga grows to no more than 12 cm long.Burrows, E.M. 1991. ''Seaweeds of the British Isles Volume 2 Chlorophyta.'' Natural History Museum London References ...

'' (Carmichael ex Harvey in Hooker) Kützing * ''

Ulothrix tenerrima ''Ulothrix'' is a genus of green algae in the family Ulotrichaceae. ''Ulothrix'' is a genus of non-branching filamentous green algae, generally found in fresh and marine water. Its cells are normally as broad as they are long, and they thrive ...

'' Kützing * ''

Ulothrix tenuissima ''Ulothrix'' is a genus of green algae in the family Ulotrichaceae. ''Ulothrix'' is a genus of non-branching filamentous green algae, generally found in fresh and marine water. Its cells are normally as broad as they are long, and they thrive ...

'' Kützing * ''

Ulothrix zonata ''Ulothrix'' is a genus of green algae in the family Ulotrichaceae. ''Ulothrix'' is a genus of non-branching filamentous green algae, generally found in fresh and marine water. Its cells are normally as broad as they are long, and they thrive ...

'' (Weber et Mohr) Kützing

Structure

The plant body consists of unbranched, uniseriate filaments. The cells of the filaments are arranged end to end. They are cylindrical or barrel-shaped. The apical cell is somewhat rounded at its terminal end whereas the basal cell is elongated. It is also called the basal holdfast, which attaches the filament to the substratum. The cell wall is composed of propectin and cellulose and it lacks mucilage. Each cell has a single girdle-like and parietal chloroplast and two to many pyrenoids are present in each chloroplast

Reproduction

Reproduction in ''Ulothrix'' takes place by means of vegetative, accidental breaking of the filamentSmith, G.M.1955 ''Cryptogamic Botany Algae and Fungi Volume 1 Second Edition'' McGraw-Hill Book Company Inc. asexual and sexual methods.

Vegetative reproduction

The common vegetative methods of reproduction are fragmentation and

akinete An akinete is an enveloped, thick-walled, non-motile, dormant cell formed by filamentous, heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria under the order Nostocales and Stigonematales. Akinetes are resistant to cold and desiccation. They also accumulate and sto ...

formation.

Fragmentation

Vegetative cells of 'Ulothrix' break into small pieces accidentally. Each fragment develops into a new filament.

Akinete formation

Some of the vegetative cells of ''Ulothrix'' are converted into thick walled

s. Food reserves are accumulated within the akinetes. When the conditions are favourable each akinete develops into a new plant.

References

Ulotrichaceae Taxa named by Friedrich Traugott Kützing Ulvophyceae genera {{Ulvophyceae-stub