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Actinotaenium phymatosporum Desmid Species Outer Hebrides

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Phylum: Charophyta   Family: Desmidiaceae

Actinotaenium phymatosporum (C.F.O. Nordstedt) F.A.C. Kouwets & P.F.M. Coesel 1984

First described by Nordstedt (1876: 26, pl. 12: 1) as Penium phymatosporum. It was later moved by Kouwets & Coesel (1984: 559) as part of taxonomic revision. Cells cylindric-ellipsoid and very slightly constricted. Apices truncately rounded. Cell-wall delicately striate (not easy to see with a light microscope). Chloroplast asteroid with one pyrenoid. Very similar to A. spinospermum but broader, usually greater than 13 µm. The zygospore is rectangular, thick-walled with protracted corners. The central section of the longest side is convex, whereas on the shorter side it is concave.
Cell dimensions: L: 27-45 µm; B: 13-18 µm; L/B: 2.00-2.50. Zygospore L: 36-42 µm.
It occurs in oligotrophic, weakly acidic waters and also found in moss on wet rocks. Not uncommon in suitable habitat.

References: 
Coesel, P.F.M. & Meesters, K.J. (2023 second edition) Desmids of the Lowlands.
Kouwets, F.A.C. & Coesel, P.F.M. (1984) Taxonomic revision of the Conjugatophycean family Peniaceae on the basis of cell wall ultrastructure.
Nordstedt, C.F.O. & Wittrock, V. (1876). Desmidieae et Oedogonieae ab O. Nordstedt in Italia et Tyrolia collectae, quas determinaverunt.
Ruzicka, J. (1981) Die Desmidiaceen Mitteleuropas, Volume 1, Part 2.
West, W. & West, G.S. (1904) A Monograph of the British Desmidiaceae, Volume 1.

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