Desmid of the month
July 2010
Closterium navicula
As its name already indicates, Closterium navicula is marked by a naviculoid, so boat-shaped cell outline. In respect of that, it differs from most other Closterium species that are more or less lunate. Cl. navicula is also characterized by relatively small cell dimensions and by big, sharply bound terminal vacuoles. In the Netherlands it is occasionally encountered in slightly acidic, mesotrophic moorland pools and fen hollows.
Image © Marien van Westen
Cell of Cl. navicula with boat-shaped outline (like the diatom genus Navicula). Notice globular terminal vavuoles holding a big (compound?) crystal.
Cell dimensions (L x B): ca 40 x 15 µm
