Chloroplast ultrastructure of Euglena cuneata Pringsheim, E-deses Ehrenberg and E-mutabilis (Euglenophyceae): Taxonomic significance

For the first time the "unilateral" pyrenoids of Euglena were studied by tr ansmission electron microscopy in three taxa: E. deses var. deses Ehrenberg , E. deses Ehr. var. intermedia Klebs and E. mutabilis Schmitz. The presenc e of pyrenoids in E. deses var. intermedia has been uncertain. Our investig ations show that these three taxa have chloroplasts with pyrenoids. Central ly or laterally located in each plastid, the pyrenoid matrix is penetrated by a few thylakoids (E. deses) or by many (E. mutabilis).