Nitella flexilis explained

Nitella flexilis, the smooth stonewort, is a freshwater^[1] species of characean algae that is used as a model organism for its large cell size and relative ease of cultivation in the laboratory.

Description

A robust species growing up to a meter long with axes up to 1mm wide. Branches in whorls once or twice divided.^[2]

Distribution

The species occurs on all continents of the world except Australia.^[3] It has been recorded from several counties in Ireland. From the Eglinton Canal in Galway;^[4] and in Counties Down and Londonderry;^[5] River Dorree in Clare Island Co. Mayo 2004.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Nitella flexilis (Linnaeus) C. Agardh . 11 January 2010.
2. Ed. Guiry, M.D., John, D.M., Rindi, F. and McCarthy, T.K. 2007. New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 6: The Freshwater and Terrestrial Algae. Royal Irish Academy.
3. Nitella flexilis: Mani, S.: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T177256A7400738 . IUCN . 2010-10-01 . International Union for Conservation of Nature . 10.2305/iucn.uk.2011-1.rlts.t177256a7400738.en . en.
4. Pybus . C. . O'Halloran . P. . 2009 . Distribution of some submerged aquatic macrophytes in the Eglinton Canal, Galway . Ir. Nat. J. . 30 . 51–53 .
5. Morton, O. in Hackney, P. 1992. The Flora of the North-east of Ireland. Institute of Irish Studies and The Queen's University Belfast.
6. Ed. Guiry, M.D., John, D.M., Rindi, F. and McCarthy, T.K. 2007. New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 6: The Freshwater and Terrestrial Algae. Royal Irish Academy.