Page 68 - Algae Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology

Anatomy 51

FIGURE 2.19 Line drawings of the thecal plate patterns of Lessardia elongata with the corresponding
numeration. Ventral view (a), dorsal view (b), apical view (c), and antiapical view (d).

membrane, variable in their composition. The inner component comprises protein and may consist
of fibril material, a single sheet or multiple plates having various shapes, hexagonal, rectangular,
oval, or round. The outer component may have plates, heptagonal scales, mucilage, or a combi-
nation of any of these. The pattern of these plates can be observed on the cell surface when
viewed with SEM and freeze-fracture TEM, but it is not obvious in light microscopy view.