portrait

Description:

Ophiocytium (off-ee-o-sit-ee-um), a xanthophyte, one of the stramenopiles. There is considerable variation in form within this group, this form often being considered to be coccoid - here used to mean not just round cells but cells without cross walls, elongate curving or spiral, typically attaching with a stalk. Two or more nuclei, two or more plastids and, as is typical of xanthophytes, with a two part wall. Phase contrast.