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Name derivation:

 

 

Classification:

Tessellaria Playfair, 1918;  the single species description is currently accepted taxonomically (Guiry and Guiry 2013).

Order Synurales; Family Synuraceae

Morphology:

Colonies (25 – 200 µm diameter) of compact spherical cells on the periphery, so packed as to appear polygonal.  The entire colony is surrounded by several layers of silicaceous scale.  Cells are connected to the center of the colony with mucilaginous threads.  External siliceous scales are 4 x 8 µm. (Tyler et al. 1989).

Similar genera:

 

 

Habitat:

Freshwater humic lakes in Australia, mainland and Tasmania -- 'rediscovered' after 70 years (Tyler et al. 1989).

 

References:

Guiry, M.D. and G.M. Guiry  2013.  AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 31 July 2013.

Playfair, G.I.  1918.  New and rare freshwater algae.  Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 43: 497-543.

Tyler, P.A., L. Pipes, R. Croome, and G.F. Leedale  1989.  Tessellaria volvocina rediscovered.  British Phycol. J. 24:329-337.