A study of several blue-green algae in the electron microscope

Summary All of the three blue-green algae, Anabaena cylindrica, Mastigocladus laminosus and Nostoc muscorum are characterized by the presence of multi-layered envelopes (sheath, wall and plasma membrane), photosynthetic lamellae and a variety of intracellular granules. Sections of heterocysts of Anabaena cylindrica showed the presence of an internal membrane system as well as lamellae. An unusual feature of the structure of Nostoc muscorum was the presence of densely stained intracellular membranes or lamellae. The results emphasize the variability in appearance of the internal structure of the blue-green algae and point to the need for detailed investigations of the influence of change in physiological environment on the anatomy of these organisms.