Home / Charophyceae / Unicells / Desmids / Placoderm / Staurodesmus
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Name derivation:
Cross-shaped little bundle stauros (Gr.) = cross, desma (Gr.) = bundle, -id (Gr.) = small
Classification:
Staurodesmus Teiling 1948; 65 of 261 species descriptions are currently accepted taxonomically (Guiry and Guiry 2013). Order Desmidiales; Family Desmidiaceae Synonym: Arthrodesmus
Morphology:
Unicellular desmid with isthmus and two opposing spines on each hemicell. Solid cellulose spines contain no cytoplasm.
Similar genera:
Staurastrum is similar, but has two or more "arms" (with cytoplasm extending to the terminus of each arm) instead of spines.
Habitat:
Freshwater lakes, both planktonic, aufwuchs, and benthic.
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 29 January 2013. Teiling, E. 1948. Staurodesmus, genus novum. Botanica Notiser 1948: 49-83.
Home / Charophyceae / Unicells / Desmids / Placoderm / Staurodesmus