The genus Dictyosphaeria belongs to the order of Cladophorales and family Siphonocladaceae. It comprises a total of 13 taxonomically recognized species.[2]
The thalli are composed of visibly hollow hexagonal or polygonal cells; and are monostromatic or polystromatic depending on species. They can be solid or button-shaped at around 1–5 cm; and spherical and club-shaped at 1 cm or more. The size of each cells are around 300 - 500 µm in diameter. Complex rhizoidal system is absent, however, basal cells are firmly attached to the substratum.[3]
Cells are visible to the naked eye. They are minutely determinate, simple or furcate, and tenacular[check spelling] that are structurally cushioned together. Occasionally, tenacular cells may also function as adventitious rhizoids.
Cells are multinucleated and have numerous discoid chloroplasts. Chloroplasts bear single pyrenoid surrounded by starch sheath and divided to two or more portions by traversing thylakoids.
The life cycle of Dictyosphaeria exhibits both biphasic and isomorphic alternation of generation. This involves quadriflagellate zoospores, as well as isogamous and biflagellate gametes. Asexual reproduction through thalli fragmentation and possible parthenogenesis of gametes which result in smooth surface thalli textures.
In addition, since this macroalgae is a large cell unit, mitotic division and cytokinesis were observed in the development of the zoospores. The unique process of cell division in this genus is observed in a study by Hori and Enomoto (1978). The mitotic spindle is placed centrally at the early course of the zooid differentiation. Prophase nuclei with centrioles were observed to be present during this stage only. Other mitotic stages are observed together in the network cytoplasm [5]