Staurodesmus glaber. Notice triangular semicell body and stout, convergent apical spines.
Cell dimensions (L x B, including spines): 20 x 30 µm

Cell of Std. glaber var. hirundinella, a variety characterized by markedly concave apices.

 

 

Desmid of the month
December 2016

Staurodesmus glaber

Cells of Staurodesmus glaber are usually triradiate. This species is characterized by semicells with a triangular body and stout spines that strongly converge from the apical angles. Zygospores, like in most Staurodesmus species are globose and furnished with slender, straight spines. In the Netherlands, Std. glaber is rather incidentally encountered in acidic, oligo-mesotrophic water bodies. Zygospores are rare.

Conjugated cells of Std. glaber with a spiny, globose zygospore in between.