Mucidosphaerium pulchellum

Mucidosphaerium pulchellum consists of colonies of cells up to 80 μm wide, with 16 to 32 (rarely 64) cells, or solitary cells. Young cells are obovoid to ellipsoidal or spindle-shaped, while older cells are spherical. The cells are attached on tetrachotomously branched (i.e. 4-branched) threads by their narrow ends. The chloroplast is basal and cup- or saucer-shaped, and contains a pyrenoid covered by two starch grains. Reproduction occurs by the formation of autospores (two to four per sporangium), which are released from a tear in the parental cell wall. ==Taxonomy==

Traditionally, Mucidosphaerium pulchellum was distinguished from similar species (e.g. Dictyosphaerium ehrenbergianum, Dictyosphaerium tetrachotomum—now Hindakia tetrachotoma) by morphological features, such as the cell size and shape, and attachment of the cell to its stalk. ==References==