Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 12, 2026

Monoraphidium

Monoraphidium is a genus of green algae in the family Selenastraceae. Monoraphidium is found free-floating or attached to surfaces in water, or in soils. It is one of the most common types of phytoplankton in freshwater habitats, and has a cosmopolitan distribution.

Last revised
Jul 12, 2026
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Monoraphidium
Monoraphidium arcuatum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Clade: Archaeplastida
Clade: Viridiplantae
Division: Chlorophyta
Class: Chlorophyceae
Order: Sphaeropleales
Family: Selenastraceae
Genus: Monoraphidium
Komárková-Legnerová
Type species
Monoraphidium neglectum
(Berkeley) Komárková-Legnerová1
Species
  • M. braunii
  • M. minutum
  • M. dybowskii
  • M. terrestre
  • M. neglectum
  • M. circinale
  • M. contortum
  • M. pusillum
  • M. convolutum
  • M. griffithii
  • M. sp. Itas 9/21 14-6w
  • M. saxatile
  • M. sp. Itas 8/18 S-1d
  • M. sp. Itas 9/21 14-1w
  • M. sp. GK12
  • M. sp. Dek19

Monoraphidium is a genus of green algae in the family Selenastraceae.2 Monoraphidium is found free-floating or attached to surfaces in water, or in soils.1 It is one of the most common types of phytoplankton in freshwater habitats, and has a cosmopolitan distribution.3

Monoraphidium consists of single cells, which are 2-182 by 1-8 micrometers. The cell is straight to lunate to sigmoid or helically shaped. Cells contain a single nucleus, a single parietal chloroplast and a single pyrenoid lacking a starch sheath (or no pyrenoid at all). Reproduction occurs asexually by autospores.1

It is similar to and often confused with the related genus Ankistrodesmus, from which it differs by being typically unicellular.4

Some species and strains of Monoraphidium, such as Monoraphidium neglectum, are promising candidates for commercial biofuel production.5

References

References

  1. "Monoraphidium Komárková-Legnerová, 1969 :: AlgaeBase". www.algaebase.org. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  2. See the NCBI webpage on Monoraphidium. Data extracted from the "NCBI taxonomy resources". National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved 2007-03-19.
  3. Bicudo, Carlos E. M.; Menezes, Mariângela (2006). Gêneros de Algas de Águas Continentais do Brasil: chave para identificação e descrições (2 ed.). RiMa Editora. p. 508. ISBN 857656064X.
  4. Matthews, Robin A. (2016). "Freshwater Algae in Northwest Washington, Volume II, Chlorophyta and Rhodophyta". A Collection of Open Access Books and Monographs. Western Washington University. doi:10.25710/fctx-n773.
  5. Yee, Willy (2016). "Microalgae from the Selenastraceae as emerging candidates for biodiesel production: A mini review". World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology. 32 (4): 64. doi:10.1007/s11274-016-2023-6. PMID 26931604. S2CID 255143072.