Closterium submoniliferum
Image © Alfred van Geest


Closterium submoniliferum. Notice lunate cell shape, broadly rounded, slightly recurved apices and scattered pyrenoids.
Cell dimensions ( L x B): ca 400 x 70 µm



Closterium submoniliferum
Image © Roland Luts

Another cell of Cl. submoniliferum showing a very high number of scattered pyrenoids


Closterium submoniliferum
Image © Hanny Kooijman née Van Blokland © IBED

Cl. submoniliferum, SEM picture of the apex showing striation and distribution of cell wall pores.



 


Desmid of the Month
November 2024

Closterium submoniliferum


Closterium submoniliferum comes across as a larger version of Cl. moniliferum (desmid of October 2015). Cells of both species are lunate with broadly rounded, slightly recurved cell ends. Main difference is in the number and arrangement of pyrenoids in the chloroplast. Whereas in Cl. moniliferum pyrenoids are relatively large and arranged in a single, axial series, those in Cl. submoniliferum are smaller, more numerous and scattered throughout the chloroplast. Like in Cl. moniliferum, cell wall in Cl. submoniliferum at first glance looks smooth but at higher magnification it appears to be very finely striate. In the Netherlands, Cl. submoniliferum is of occasional occurrence in meso-eutrophic, circumneutral water bodies.


Closterium submoniliferum
Image © Alfred van Geest

Cl. submoniliferum, detail of slightly recurved cell apex.

Closterium submoniliferum
Image © Alfred van Geest

Cl. submoniliferum. Detail of midregion showing fine
striation of cell wall.