Valonia | |
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A Valonia species cultivated in an aquarium | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Viridiplantae |
Phylum: | Chlorophyta |
Class: | Ulvophyceae |
Order: | Cladophorales |
Family: | Valoniaceae |
Genus: | Valonia |
Species | |
Valonia is a genus of green algae, in the Valoniaceae family. The cells have multiple nuclei and many chloroplasts, each with a pyrenoid. The cells of some species are very large, up to 2 cm in diameter. In some species the colonies maintain a symmetrical shape but in others they do not. Some species have been extensively used for studies of ion-exchange and water potential across biological membranes.