Synura
Synura is a genus of colonial chrysomonad algae covered in silica scales. It is the most conspicuous genus of the order Synurales.

Description
Species of Synura form microscopic, spherical colonies, composed of multiple cells attached to each other at the center of the colony. Synura cells are variously shaped, typically spherical to pear-shaped or club-shaped. Each cell contains two plastids aligned with the long axis of the cell; they impart a distinctive golden color to the cells, which come from chlorophyll c1 and fucoxanthin. Cells are covered in scales made of silica. Two flagella are present.

Identification of species depends on the morphology of the scales. For many species, a positive identification is only possible with an electron microscope, either with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) or transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Classification
The present taxonomy recognizes five sections:
Section Peterseniae
S. americana
S. australiensis
S. borealis
S. conopea
S. glabra
S. heteropora
S. hibernica
S. laticarina
S. longisquama
S. macracantha
S. macropora
S. petersenii
Section Spinosae
S. curtispina
S. mollispina
S. nygaardii
S. sphagnicola
S. spinosa
Section Echinulatae
S. biseriata
S. echinulata
S. leptorrhabda
S. mammillosa
S. multidentata
Section Splendidae 
S. splendida
Section Uvellae
S. uvella

References

External links

Ochrophyta
Heterokont genera
Taxa named by Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg