''Triploceras'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

desmid Desmidiales, commonly called the desmids (''Gr.'' ''desmos'', bond or chain), are an Order (biology), order in the Charophyta, a division of green algae in which the land plants (Embryophyta) emerged. Desmids consist of single-celled (sometimes fi ...

(a type of

green alga The green algae (: green alga) are a group of chlorophyll-containing autotrophic eukaryotes consisting of the phylum Prasinodermophyta and its unnamed sister group that contains the Chlorophyta and Charophyta/ Streptophyta. The land plants ( ...

) in the family

Desmidiaceae The Desmidiaceae are one of four family (biology), families of Charophyta, charophyte green algae in the order (biology), order Desmidiales (desmids).See the National Center for Biotechnology Information, NCBI]webpage on Desmidiaceae Data extrac ...

.See the National Center for Biotechnology Information, NCBIbr>webpage on Triploceras
Data extracted from the

Description

''Triploceras'' exists as solitary cells, which are elongated and constricted at the middle (the constriction called an isthmus); the two halves are called semicells. At tip of either semicell, the cell is tipped with spiny lobes, similar to the polar lobes found in ''

Micrasterias ''Micrasterias'' is a Cell (biology), unicellular green alga of the order Desmidiales. Its species vary in size reaching up to hundreds of microns. ''Micrasterias'' displays a bilateral symmetry, with two mirror image semi-cells joined by a narr ...

''. Along the margins of the semicells are many whorls of processes that may be tipped with spines or teeth. Cells have one

chloroplast A chloroplast () is a type of membrane-bound organelle, organelle known as a plastid that conducts photosynthesis mostly in plant cell, plant and algae, algal cells. Chloroplasts have a high concentration of chlorophyll pigments which captur ...

filling the cell.

Identification

''Triploceras'' is easily recognizable due to its elongated shape and polar lobes. The similar genus '' Triplastrum'' also has polar spines, but lacks protuberances along the sides of the cell.

Phylogeny

Phylogenetically, ''Triploceras'' is currently known to be embedded within the genus ''Micrasterias''. Despite the similar rod-like shape, it is not closely related to other rod-shaped genera such as '' Pleurotaenium'' or ''Triplastrum''.

Distribution

Two species, '' Triploceras gracile'' and '' T. verticillatum'' are widely distributed throughout the world. Another species, '' T. splendens'' is rare and restricted to

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...

and northern

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

References

Desmidiaceae Charophyta genera {{green algae-stub