COMMENTS IN CHLAMYDOMONAS.
Habit:
Chlamydomonas is a freshwater alga found in ponds, lakes, well, and slow running streams. Under the naked eye it looks like a tiny dust particle.
Cellular Structure:
Under H.P the cell shows an outstanding large U-shaped chloroplast that has a single basal pyrenoid and many starch grain. It possesses a lens shaped stigma or eye spot towards a corner. A prominent nucleus is embedded in cytoplasm in between arms of u-chloroplast. Two contractile vacuoles lie towards the anterior end. Two flagella originates from blepharoplasty of the anterior most part of the cell.
Palmella stage:
It represents asexual reproduction known as non- motile reproductive phase. It occurs during unfavorable conditions. It has two or four flagellated cells ensheathed by a common mucilaginous envelope.
After the return of favorable condition, all the non- motile chlamydomonas are released by disintegration of the mucilage envelope. Then, each of them after developing flagella, converts into motile form ready to swim in water.