portrait

Description:

Gonyostomum (go-knee-os-toe-um) is a raphidophyte stramenopile. There are typically two flagella inserting subapically, one projecting forwards in swimming cells, the other trailing. With many discoidal plastids, with chlorophylls a and c, but in this genus the plastids look as green as those of chlorophytes and euglenids. Common in acidic freshwater habitats such as bogs. Squashed specimen of Gonyostomum latum. Wedge-shaped trichocysts are arranged around the nucleus and under the cell surface. 50 microns. Differential interference contrast.