Prototheca wickerhamii

**Semantic type:** Plant

**Definition:** A species of achlorophyllous, spherular green alga that grows in aggregates with multiple internal cleavages, in the phylum Chlorophyta. This alga is non-spore forming, non-fermentative, metabolizes glucose, galactose and trehalose, does not utilize potassium nitrate, and reproduces asexually by internal septation and cleavage. P. wickerhamii are found saprophytically on decaying organic matters and can cause protothecosis and systemic algaemia in humans.

**Synonyms:** - P. wickerhamii - PROTOTHECA WICKERHAMII