Desmid of the month
February 2011
Staurastrum bloklandiae
S. bloklandiae* is a planktic biradiate Staurastrum species that can readily be recognized by its strongly diverging arm-like processes that are often faintly curved upwards and always end in a stout bifurcate spine. Whereas the campanulate semicell body is nearly smooth-walled, the processes are distinctly dentate. S. bloklandiae was only rather recently described as a new species (Coesel & Joosten 1996). Being originally described from the Netherlands it is nowadays already known from quite a series of European countries (e.g., Germany, France, Great Britain, Austria, Poland and Serbia). Unlike most other desmid species it is particularly to be encountered in rather eutrophic, alkaline water bodies. In the Netherlands it is of occasional occurrence.
* named after Hanny Kooijman née Van Blokland, former technician at the Department of Lower Plants, University of Amsterdam
reference:
Coesel, P.F.M. & Joosten, A.M.T., 1996. Three new planktic Staurastrum taxa (Chlorophyta, Desmidiaceae) from eutrophic water bodies and the significance of microspecies in desmid taxonomy. — Algological Studies 80: 9-20.
Image © Marien van Westen
Biradiate cell of Staurastrum bloklandiae. Notice divergent processes ending in a prominent bifurcate spine.
Cell dimensions (L x B): ca 40 x 40 µm
