Desmid of the month
November 2007

Micrasterias denticulata

Micrasterias denticulata somewhat resembles Micrasterias thomasiana (desmid of the month September 2002), in particular its var. notata that is characterized by a reduced cell wall sculpturing.  The essential difference between the two species is that the semicell lobules in M. thomasiana are marked by dentate angles whereas those in M. denticulata are rounded (so, actually, the name of M. denticulata is most confusing). In the Netherlands, M. denticulata is a rather rare species in mesotrophic quaking fen hollows.

Image © Henk Schulp

Cell of Micrasterias denticulata (var. angulosa). Notice the rounded semicell lobules.

Cell dimensions (L x B): 270 x 215 µm