Fine Structure of Peridinium westii Lemm., a Freshwater Dinoflagellate

Abstract

SYNOPSIS. The fine structure of Peridinium westii Lemm., an armoured dinoflagellate collected from Lake Tiberias, is reported. Thick cell walls contain plates, pores and tubules, and are surrounded by an external membrane. The cytoplasm is limited by 3 membranes. Nuclei contain numerous chromosomes with a fibrillar organization. The chloroplast envelope consists of 3 membranes; parallel lamellae, each generally comprising 3 thylakoids, are present. Pyrenoids are present in various forms within the chloroplast structure. Trichocysts are found in cells both as elongate dense cores within a membrane‐enclosed sac and as striated rods. An eyespot is found in a plastid containing several thylakoids.