University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban College

Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Plant Morphology Anatomy and Diversity Laboratory
Laboratory Report
Name: Alleia Mae U. Mazo
2015
Section: BC
Schedule: T-F, 8:30-11:30 A.M.

Date Performed: February 3, 6, and 10,

Date Submitted: February 12, 2015
Rating:

ALGAE: CHLOROPHYTA. PHAEOPHYTA, RHODOPHYTA

Exercise 1-3

I.

Macroscopic appearance (color, thallus forms, identification,

microscopic observation of the thallus of each sample.

etc.)

and

The laboratory exercise aims to provide knowledge about the

different types of algae classified within their respective divisions. With this, the group
collected samples of algae for each division. Three samples were collected for the
Divsion of Chlorophyta (2 marine and 1 terrestrial algae), two for the Division of
Phaeophyta (all marine algae) and two samples (all marine) as well for the Division of
Rhodophyta. These were taken from different locations.
A. Division Chlorophyta
1.

Scientific name: Halimeda opuntia

Common name: Watercress alga
Description:
The specimen is an example of a green marine algae found along the shoreline
of UP Botanical Garden Tacloban City. It is thick, profusely branched clumps of rounded
three-lobed or ribbed leaf-like segments, between 10 and 25 cm in height. Its branches
are of number which are in different planes. It can be found in shallow depressions,
cracks and crevices, between hard corals and other somewhat protected areas of the
reef. Its thallus is composed of chains of flat and cylindrical calcified green segments, is
pseudoparenchymatous and is forming an amorphous mass. It is coenocytic in which the
entire organism lacks individual cells. Individual organisms are made up of a single giant
cell with multiple nuclei. Calcium carbonate is deposited in its tissues, making it inedible
to most herbivores.

2.

Scientific name: Caulerpa lentillifera

Common name: Sea Grapes
Local name: Lato
Description:
The specimen is an example of a green marine algae which is bought at
Tacloban Public market. Caulerpa lentillifera is a stoloniferous plant that can grow up to
10 cm tall. The thallus consists of horizontal branched stolon and erect branches. It is
holocarpic when fertile. On the other hand, the stolons are cylindrical in cross section.
Besides, the cells in the innermost layer are shorter and get circular as they move
towards the middle while the cells on the outermost part are cylindrical or elongated in
form.

B. Division Phaeophyta
1.

Scientific name: Sargassum sp.

Description:
The specimen is an example of a brown marine algae found along the shoreline
of UP Botanical Garden Tacloban City. It is a large brown seaweed of up to 1-3 m long
made up of a holdfast, much branched stems and leaf-like blades. Numerous air vesicles
are present to give buoyancy to the plant. The leaves are of varying shapes and sized,
within the species as well as between species. Moreover, it grows on hard substrata in
shallow waters and can also tolerate estuarine conditions. Its thallus, on the other hand,
is parenchymatous and its growth is apical. Additionally, on the cross-section of the
specimens thallus, one can observe that the innermost cells are smaller compared to the
outermost cells although their shape is still the same (circular). The cell layers are not
obviously seen in the microscope.

2.

Scientific name: Laminaria sp.

Common name: Kelp
Description:
The specimen is an example of a brown marine algae found along the shoreline
of UP Botanical Garden Tacloban City. This belongs to the genus of 31 species of brown
algae (Phaeophyceae), all sharing the common name "kelp". Some species are also
referred to as tangle. This economically important genus is characterized by long,
leathery laminae and relatively large size. It has bladed Flattened leaf-like thallus or
thallus part, may have a stipe. The cells found on the innermost and outermost layers are
almost the same. The shape is angular containing a single nucleus within each cell.

C. Division Rhodophyta
1.

Scientific name: Laurencia papillosa

Common name: Red Alga
Description:
The specimen is an example of a red marine algae found along the shoreline of
UP Botanical Garden Tacloban City. The Laurencia papillosa is a cartilaginous alga, erect
and inflexible, very common on abrasion platforms in the intertidal zone. Its central axis
and its side axis are covered with many, dense nipples. It is actually very common along
rocky coasts or abrasion platforms, sometimes also in the upper regions of potholes. It
comes out in shades of green, or brownish-green depending on the light conditions, like
in many other species of algae. Also, the cells found on the innermost layer of the thallus

are smaller and are a bit circular while on the outermost part, the cells are larger and are
elongated.

2.

Scientific name: Caulacanthus ustulatus

Common name: Red alga
Description:
The specimen is an example of a red marine algae found along the shoreline of
UP Botanical Garden Tacloban City. Caulacanthus ustulatus densely tufted, dark purple to
brownish, cartilaginous fronds, profusely and irregularly branched, narrowing fairly
abruptly towards the apices giving a horn-like appearance. It can be found nn rock, on
mussels and epiphytic, intertidal, and on exposed shores. Also, there are two pericentral
cells cut off from axial cell, giving rise to 45 layers of rounded and elongated cells,
gradually diminishing in size toward the surface. The central axis is conspicuous and
each cells bear a pair of di-trichotomously branching lateral filaments that traverse a
small cavity before forming a pseudoparenchymatous cortex of 23 layers. Outer cortical
cells are angular in surface view. However, division of cell layers can be seen.

II.

Microscopic Observation of Prepared Slides

1.
Name of slide: Oedogonium macrandrous w.m.
Magnification: HPO, 400x
Description:
rous is a genus of filamentous green algae, with
unbranched filaments that are one cell thick. It can
be free-floating, though it is usually attached
to aquatic plants by a holdfast. It also appears
greenish and inhabits calm, fresh water. Thallus is a
long, unbranched thread called the filament. The
filament consists of a single row of elongated,
cylindrical cells arranged end to end. Additionally,
the life cycle of Oedogonium is haplontic (meiosis is
zygotic). Antheridia which
produce
sperm,
and oogonia which produce an egg, release the
sperm and egg. The egg and sperm then fuse and
form a zygote which is diploid (2n). The zygote then
produces the filamentous green alga which
is haploid (1n). Antheridia occur on filaments of
normal size. These may be monoecious or
2.

gggcgccc

Name of slide: Ulothrix sp. w.m.

Magnification: HPO, 400x
Description:
Ulothrix species are unbranched filamentous
green algae. The cells are typically about as broad as
they are long (or broader). The chloroplast is a ring
which runs around all or part of the circumference of
the cell, and occupies almost its whole length. They
grow attached to surfaces by a modified holdfast cell.
They are Eukaryotic and unicellular and they belong
to one of the 5 classes of microorganisms.
Reproduction is mainly vegetative. The cell contents
become densely colored, then divide into several
spherical zoospores which escape through a hole or

3.

4.

Name of slide: Chlorella sp. w.m.

Magnification: HPO, 400x
Description:
Chlorella is a single-celled algae that grows in
fresh water. It is spherical in shape and does not
have flagella. It contains the green photosynthetic
pigments chlorophyll-a
and -b in
its chloroplast.
Through photosynthesis, it multiplies rapidly,
requiring only carbon dioxide, water, sunlight, and a
small amount of minerals to reproduce. It is a
popular food supplement in Asia that is thought to
boost the immune system and help fight infection. It
has been used as energy-producing food for
centuries and is often used also to prevent or curb
the spread of cancer, enhance immunity, promote a
good balance of bacteria in the gut, and lower blood
Name of slide: Sargassum x.s.
Magnification: LPO, 100x
Description:
Sargassum is a genus of brown macroalgae in
the Order Fucales. Many species are distributed all
over the temperate and tropical oceans of the world,
where they generally dwell shallow water and coral
reefs. However, the genus may be best known for its
planktonic (free-floating) species. They may grow to a
length of several meters. They are brown or dark
green in color and consist of a holdfast, a stipe, and a
frond.
Oogonia and antheridia occur
in conceptacles embedded in receptacles on special
branches. Some species have berrylike gas-filled
bladders which help keep the fronds afloat to
promote photosynthesis. Many have a rough sticky
texture, which together with a robust but flexible body,

REFERENCES:
http://www.globinmed.com/index.php?
option=com_content&view=article&id=79160:caulerpa-lentillifera-j-agardh&catid=367:c
http://www.blue-ecosystems.com/Laurencia_papillosa.html
http://algalweb.net/ulo.htm
http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-chlorella.html
http://www.blue-ecosystems.com/Laurencia_papillosa.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargassum
http://www.seaweed.ie/descriptions/Caulacathus_ustulatus.php
https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/26551