Genus name:
Gomphosphaeria
Description:
Colonies spherical or irregularly oval, sometimes composed of subcolonies. Cells radially oriented and mostly at the colony periphery; slightly elongate, obovate, or club-shaped, pale or bright blue-green, olive green, or red. Central, thick mucilaginous stalks which widen at the ends and envelope individual cells with a thin mucilage layer; stalks nearly pseudodichotomous and may be diffuse within the colony. After division, the cells may remain joined together and form a cordiform shape. Cell division in two planes in successive generations, perpendicular to each another and to the colony surface. Reproduction is by colony disintegration.
