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PHYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

On the left is the meristem and on the right is a cross section of the central axis of Desmarestia. The meristem is a group of rapidly dividing cells that initiate growth and is located at the base of a hair. You can also see a longitudinal section of the central axis below. Desmarestia thalli are composed of tissue that is generated by trichothallic growth at apex and axis of branches. Trichothallic means a type of growth where meristematic cells are not at the apex, and they cut off apically a filamentous "hair" and basally the pseudoparenchymatous thallus.

Here is a longitudinal section of an axis from Desmarestia that shows where two central axis cells meet. The central axis cells are highlighted in red in the drawing. Highlighted in blue are cells called hyphae and may serve in conduction.

Index Taxonomy Life History Morphology Antarctica Acknowledgements

© 2005 Ashley Maloney