What is a mermaid's wineglass?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
May 30, 2002
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killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading: Click here.
In warm, shallow, and sheltered waters of the Caribbean is found a unique green algae, the mermaid's wineglass (Acetabularia crenulata). Although diminutive, only three to five centimeters tall (1.5 to 3 inches), the plant is siphonous or coenocytic, a single cell with multiple nuclei.
The mermaid's wineglass is slightly calcified which aids in holding the shape so water can circulate around the cell. Carbon dioxide and nutrients must diffuse in and oxygen and wastes diffuse out by crossing the cell wall.
The mermaid's wineglass (like all live plant cells) contains a contractile protein, actin. The actin is organized into filaments, the filaments into bundles. The bundles lay inside the cell membrane forming a looping track.
The bundles have a definite polarity. This polarity causes cytoplasmic streaming, the orderly movement of the contents of the cell along the track. This streaming brings nutrients, mitochondria (power houses), chloroplasts, and proteins into contact with each other enabling the cell to function.
College of Exploration has a photograph of mermaid's wineglass. To view the photograph, click on the link:
http://www.coexploration.org/bbsr/coral/assets/images/acetabularia.jpg
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
How will you use red algae today? Plants that Changed History - July 16, 2002
What 'plant' is not a plant? Weird Plants - July 18, 2002
How does hornwort benefit from cyanobacteria? Weird Plants - February 19, 2004
Deer Lichen (Cladina) species Plant of the Week - January 14, 2002
How are kelp forests benefiting from sushi bars? Renfield's Garden - July 17, 2002
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The shape of this aquarium makes it primarily decorative. The shape of your aquarium can determine the quantity and types of fish best suited for it. To ensure the health of the animals being put in this aquarium, be sure to tell your aquatic specialist the dimensions, as well as the gallons before buying fish.
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