Staurodesmus omearaemouse over images © Alfred van Geest

Triradiate cell of Staurodesmus omearae in frontal view. Notice cup-shaped semicells with apical angles that gradually pass into rather long, divergent spines.

Cell dimensions (L x B, including spines): 27 x 35 µm

 

 

Desmid of the month
July 2014

Staurodesmus omearae

Cells of Staurodesmus omearae are relatively small and may be 2-radiate or 3-radiate. Often, within one and the same population, both radiation facies may be present. Not seldom, also Janus forms are encountered: one semicell being 2-radiate, the other one 3-radiate. Cell shape in Std. omearae is not very specific. Semicells are cup-shaped with divergent spines at the apical angles. Zygospores, as in most Staurodesmus species, are globose and provided with rather long spines. Std. omearae is particularly encountered in acidic, oligotrophic habitats. In the Netherlands it is a common inhabitant of bogs and moorland pools. Zygospores are but seldom found.


Image © Alfred van Geest

Biradiate cell of Std. omearae.

Staurodesmus omearae in apical viewMouse over images © Alfred van Geest

Same cell of Std. omearae in apical view.


Image © Marien van Westen

Dichotypic cell of Std. omearae (so-called Janus form), the upper semicell being triradiate, the lower semicell biradiate.

zygospore of Staurodesmus omearaeImage (stacked) © Marien van Westen

Globose, spiny zygospore of Std. omearae.