Home / Charophyceae / Desmids / Unicells / Saccoderm / Mesotaenium
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Name derivation:
Classification:
Mesotaenium Nägeli 1849; 17 of 64 species descriptions are currently accepted taxonomically (Guiry and Guiry 2013). Order Zygnematales; Family Mesotaeniaceae
Morphology:
Solitary, single-celled saccoderm (one entire cell wall; bilaterally symmetric). The cells are usually elongate up to 123µm long, and cylindrical with rounded ends, but may also be elliptical or fusiform in shape. The cells can excrete large amounts of mucilage forming a broad sheath. Each cell has two or four large, chloroplasts that appear frilly due to their elaborate lobes and ridges. The nucleus is located between the chloroplasts in the center of the cell. Asexually reproduce via cell division.
Similar genera:
Habitat:
Abundant in acidic, oligotrophic, aquatic habitats or in Sphagnum bog (Guiry and Guiry 2012).
References:
Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org Nägeli, C. 1849. Gattungen einzelliger Algen, physiologisch und systematisch bearbeitet. Neue Denkschriften der Allg. Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für die Gesammten Naturwissenschaften 10(7): i-viii, 1-139, pls I-VIII.