The
plastid (Greek: πλαστός; plastós: formed, molded – plural
plastids) is a major double-membrane
organelle found, among others, in the
cells of
plants and
algae. Plastids are the site of manufacture and storage of important chemical compounds used by the cell. They often contain
pigments used in
photosynthesis, and the types of pigments present can change or determine the cell's color. They have a common origin and possess a double-stranded
DNA molecule that is circular, like that of
prokaryotes.