Home / Charophyceae / Desmids / Unicells/ Placoderm / Micrasterias
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Name derivation:
Classification:
Micrasterias C.Agardh exRalfs 1848; 56 of 901 species descriptions are currently accepted taxonomically (Guiry and Guiry 2013). Order Desmidiales, Family Desmidiaceae
Morphology:
Green flattened unicells up to 400 µm long (except M. foliacea that forms short trichomes), with a constricted (incut) isthmus. From one to three bilateral lobes on each hemicell, with lobes subdivided in some species. Micrasterias is most studied among desmids for chromosome numbers and karyotype analysis. Chromosome numbers from 24-230 among 18 species; strains of single species may have different numbers. Morphological variants in culture are aneuploids (Guiry and Guiry 2013).
Similar genera:
Habitat:
Acidic, oligotrophic freshwater bogs and lakes.
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 22 May 2013. Ralfs, J. 1848. The British Desmidieae. pp. [i]-xxii, [i], [1]-226, pls I-XXXV. London: Reeve, Benham and Reeve.