Image © Henri Schlötz
Cell of Netrium interruptum with
four chloroplasts. Notice the big, globular terminal vacuoles.
Cell dimensions (L x B): ca 250 x 50 µm
Desmid of the month
September 2007
Netrium interruptum
Netrium interruptum may readily distinguished from
Netrium digitus by its cylindric cells that abruptly taper to the
truncate poles. In addition to that, each cell contains four chloroplasts provided
with entire, longitudinal ridges. Whereas
Netrium digitus is commonly
occurring in all kinds of shallow, acidic, oligo-mesotrophic water bodies,
Netrium
interruptum is much more rare. In the Netherlands it is only known from
some mesotrophic quaking fens at the transition of Pleistocene to Holocene
deposits.
Image © Marien van Westen
Another cell of Netrium interruptum (among other algae, protozoa and purple sulfur bacteria). Notice the central
nucleus as well as the terminal vavuoles that contain one single crystal each.
Image © Wim van Egmond
Picture of a cell of Netrium interruptum focussed on the longitudinal chloroplast ridges that are not notched (like in Netrium
digitus) but entire.