Home / Greens / Colonies / Non-flagellated / Sorastrum
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Name derivation:
“Cluster star” -- Cluster or accumulation Sor- star –astrum
Classification:
Sorastrum Kützing 1845; 5 of 8 species descriptions are currently accepted taxonomically (Guiry and Guiry 2013). Order Sphaeropleales; Family Hydrodictyaceae
Morphology:
Spherical colony, typically 16 cells. Each cell has two horns Tear drop cells have multiple nuclei and form spherical colonies. The colonies often have four or more spines protruding from them. Colonies can be formed of few to very many cells.
Similar genera:
The outer row of cells of Pediastrum duplex have similar two-horned cells
Habitat:
Freshwater lakes, both planktonic, aufwuchs, and benthic. Temperate to tropical climates, often found in freshwater pools.
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 28 September 2013. Kützing, F.T. 1845. Phycologia germanica, d. i. Deutschlands Algen in bündigen Beschreibungen. Nebst einer Anleitung zum Untersuchen und Bestimmen dieser Gewächse für Anfänger. pp. i-x, 1-340. Nordhausen: W. Köhne.