Vacuolaria virescens (Raphidophyta) belongs to a primitive group of algae of the diatom / brown algae relationship. The cells move like amoebae. They are enclosed by voluminous gelatinous coats that attract bacteria, who live at the coats’ outer surfaces. The pictures below were taken with the aid of a fluorescence microscope. They show daughter cells of Vacuolaria virescens that are still enclosed by a common gelatinous coat.
