gonidia
Gonidia, or gonidium (plural gonidia), are specialized asexual reproductive cells found in certain colonial algae, especially among the volvocine green algae such as Volvox and Pandorina. In these organisms, the colony is typically composed of somatic cells forming the outer layer, with one or more interior cells differentiating into gonidia to serve reproductive functions. Gonidia are usually larger than somatic cells and often lack the flagella characteristic of the somatic cells.
Development and function: Gonidia arise from somatic cells through differentiation and then undergo multiple rounds of
Lifecycle and variation: The number of gonidia per colony and their developmental timing vary by species and
Taxonomic note: The term gonidium has historical usage in the description of various algae and related organisms.