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Home / Charophyceae / Desmids / Unicells / Placoderm / Staurastrum |
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Click on images for larger format |
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Name derivation: |
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Cross-shaped Star stauros (Gr.) = cross, aster (Gr.) = star |
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Morphology: |
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Bilaterally symmetric (usually) cell with two hemicells (halves) separated by a narrow isthmus. Each hemicell has a number of "arms" that appears to
be species specific, from 2 to more than 10. Each arm has "toes"
(short spines), as well as ornamentation ("worts")
on the cellulose wall. |
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Similar genera: |
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Arthrodesmus is similar but
lacks hollow "arms" and instead has one pair of spines in place of
"arms," on each hemicell. Xanthidium has more spines, generally in two planes, on
each hemicell, and also lacks "arms." |
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Habitat:
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Freshwater habitats. Various species select a narrow pH range (A.J. Brook, personal communication). |
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References: |
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