ULOTHRIX

genus of filamentous green algae found in marine and fresh waters; it survives best at low temperatures and thrives during winter and spring months. Each cell contains a distinct nucleus, a central vacuole, and a large, thin chloroplast with at least one pyrenoid. Ulothrix shows little cellular differentiation other than the specialized cell for attachment, called the holdfast. In most species, all the cells can form reproductive bodies. Ulothrix reproduces vegetatively by fragmentation, asexually by nonmotile resting spores (aplanospores) and motile quadriflagellate spores (zoospores), and sexually by biflagellate gametes.