Home / Charophyceae / Filaments / Desmids/ Onychonema
Click on images for larger format
Name derivation:
Classification:
Onychonema Wallich, 1860; 3 of 30 species descriptions are currently accepted taxonomically (Guiry and Guiry 2014). Order Desmidiales; Family Desmidiaceae
Morphology:
Filaments. Cells (10 – 20 μm wide and long) shaped much like certain Cosmarium species but with two processes extending from each semicell that overlap obliquely the adjacent cells in the filament, one over the front and the other over the back of the next cells.
Similar genera:
Sphaerozosma has a single process extending from each semicell to the next cells in the filament.
Habitat:
Freshwater, somewhat acidic (low alkalinity) pools.
References:
Guiry, M.D. and G.M. Guiry 2014. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 30 May 2014.