Cosmarium connatum Image © Koos Meesters

Cosmarium connatum. Notice large dimensions, shallow sinus and subcircular semicells.
Cell dimensions (L x B): 96 x 66 µm

Empty cell (mouse over)
Mouse over images © Alfred van Geest

Dead, largely empty cell of C. connatum showing distinct cell wall pore fields

 

 

Desmid of the month
August 2018

Cosmarium connatum

Cosmarium connatum is a pretty large-sized, smooth-walled species, characterized by a shallow sinus and subcircular semicells. In apical view, semicells are broadly elliptic to almost circular. Chloroplasts contain two pyrenoids and the cell wall is marked by distinct pore fields. In the Netherlands, C. connatum is rather common in mesotrophic quaking fen hollows but elsewhere rare.

Image © Alfred van Geest

Same cell of C. connatum in apical view showing a broadly elliptic outline and two pyrenoids.


Image © Alfred van Geest

Another cell of C. connatum in frontal view. Notice two pyrenoids in each of the chloroplasts.


Image Hanny Kooyman née Van Blokland © IBED

SEM picture of C. connatum.