Phylum: Chlorophyta   Family: Palmellopsidaceae

Asterococcus limneticus G.M. Smith 1918

First described by Smith (1918: 627) but, strangely, not illustrated. Colonies are small: 4, 8 or 16 cells enclosed in mucilage.
Cell diameters: 10-25 µm; colony diameters: 50-125 µm.
Found moorland pools and loch-margins. Distribution and status in the Outer Hebrides unknown but probably fairly common.

References: 
John, D.M., Whitton, B.A. & Brook, A.J. (2011 second edition). The Freshwater Algal Flora of the British Isles.
Smith, G.M.(1918). A second list of algae found in Wisconsin lakes.