Home / Charophyceae / Desmids / Unicells/ Placoderm / Gonatozygon
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Name derivation:
Means yoke and knee, which to me seems inapplicable. There must be a better translation.
Classification:
Gonatozygon De Bary 1858; 9 of 33 species descriptions are currently accepted taxonomically (Guiry and Guiry 2013). Order Desmidiales; Family Gonatozygaceae
Morphology:
Cylindrical placoderm unicell, usually with a large number of setae along lateral walls. “The hairy desmid.”
Similar genera:
Several genera of cylindrical placoderm desmids can be confusing until somewhat minor variations in wall shapes and decor are scrutinized. The most common include Docidium, Gonatozygon, Penium, Pleurotaenium, Roya and Triploceras.
Habitat:
Sphagnum-dominated bogs and other somewhat acidic oligotrophic lakes.
References:
Bary, A. de (1856). Zu Gonatozygon monotaenium de Bary. Rabenh. Algen Mitteleurop. Dec. 54 No. 539. Hedwigia 1: 105-106. Guiry, M.D. and G.M. Guiry 2013. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 28 July 2013.