Algae identification

Algae
Coleochaete

Name: Coleochaete
Common name:  Green Algae 
Family: Coleochaetaceae

Collection Date: received in lab 

Habitat:Freshwater habitats such as lakes, both planktonic, aufwuchs, and benthic. 
Description: Multicellular. Branched in nature. Cells are uninucleate and the cells are usually greenish brown from chloroplast. 

Key used: A.R. Baker 2013, An Image Based Key: Algae

Keying Steps: 
1. Identified as Charophyte because of green chloroplast and round cells. 
2. Identified as Coleochaete due to round nature of cells bundled up with one another.
3. Identified to be just the crustose version.


Figure 1: A view of Coleochaete 10x under microscope.


Figure 2: Coleochaete 40x under microscope. Notice the shape of the cells and the green color of the chloroplast. The cells like to be arranged around one another.