''Oscillatoria princeps'' is the

type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen ...

(

lectotype In biology, a type is a particular specimen (or in some cases a group of specimens) of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached. In other words, a type is an example that serves to anchor or centralizes the ...

) of the

cyanobacteria Cyanobacteria (), also known as Cyanophyta, are a phylum of gram-negative bacteria that obtain energy via photosynthesis. The name ''cyanobacteria'' refers to their color (), which similarly forms the basis of cyanobacteria's common name, blu ...

l (blue green algal) genus ''

Oscillatoria ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillating motion of its filaments as they slide against each other ...

''. The cyanobacterium is dark blue green in colour, due to the presence of the phycobilin pigments

phycocyanin Phycocyanin is a pigment-protein complex from the light-harvesting phycobiliprotein family, along with allophycocyanin and phycoerythrin. It is an accessory pigment to chlorophyll. All phycobiliproteins are water-soluble, so they cannot exist w ...

and

phycoerythrin Phycoerythrin (PE) is a red protein-pigment complex from the light-harvesting phycobiliprotein family, present in cyanobacteria, red algae and cryptophytes, accessory to the main chlorophyll pigments responsible for photosynthesis.The red pigmen ...

. Individual filaments are blue green to olive green in colour. Growth takes place only by transverse division hence the

trichome Trichomes (); ) are fine outgrowths or appendages on plants, algae, lichens, and certain protists. They are of diverse structure and function. Examples are hairs, glandular hairs, scales, and papillae. A covering of any kind of hair on a pla ...

comprises a single row of cells stacked one above the other. A cytoplasmic sheath is present which is very thin,

hyaline A hyaline substance is one with a glassy appearance. The word is derived from el, ὑάλινος, translit=hyálinos, lit=transparent, and el, ὕαλος, translit=hýalos, lit=crystal, glass, label=none. Histopathology Hyaline cartilage is ...

and indistinct. Mature trichomes are straight, the cells much broader than long and has hemispherical apical cell with keritomized (irregular to radial

thylakoid Thylakoids are membrane-bound compartments inside chloroplasts and cyanobacteria. They are the site of the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis. Thylakoids consist of a thylakoid membrane surrounding a thylakoid lumen. Chloroplast thyl ...

arrangement) content. Trichome unconstricted in growth phase and constrictions were observed during reproduction. Distinct cross walls present. The size of the cells varies from 57.6 µm to 69.1 µm in width and 5.2 µm to 9.6 µm in length thus the ratio of the length and breadth is 1:8.

Stack of poker chips

The cells of the trichomes were round in shape and when such cells were stacked one above the other it gives "stack of

poker chips Casino tokens (also known as casino or gaming chips, checks, cheques or poker chips) are small discs used in terms of currency in casinos. Colored metal, injection-molded plastic or compression molded clay tokens of various denominations are us ...

" appearance characteristic feature of this species.

Crack-like nick on filament

A crack-like nick was observed on the trichomes was found by V. Uma Rani ''et al.'' in microscopic view. While they studying individual cells notches were found at the inner side of the cell corresponding the slit on the trichome. When such cells were stacked one above the other, it results in the crack like structure on the trichome. Thus, the number of notches in a single cell equals the number of slits on the trichome. One to three notches / slits were observed in the study by Uma Rani et al. 2015.

Reproduction

Reproduction takes place only by vegetative methods namely fragmentation and

hormogonia Hormogonia are motile filaments of cells formed by some cyanobacteria in the order Nostocales and Stigonematales. They are formed during vegetative reproduction in unicellular, filamentous cyanobacteria, and some may contain heterocysts and ...

. Both the methods were observed in the most of the study. Fragmentation takes place by the degradation of weakened cells or mechanically damaged cells. The trichome divides into smaller fragments. The cells of the fragment by repeated division develop into a new filament.

Distribution

This species is ubiquitous in distribution. it reported from both marine and freshwater.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1796255 Species described in 1822 Oscillatoriales