Image © Alfred van Geest
Closterium acerosum. Notice that the cell is only slightly curved (almost straight in its middle part) and marked by conical, somewhat recurved apices.
Cell dimensions (L x B): 365 x 30 µm
Closterium acerosum is marked by fairly stout, slightly curved to almost straight cells with a bit conical, often slightly recurved apices. The cell wall looks smooth or very delicately striate, colourless or a bit brownish. Zygospores are globular and smooth-walled. In its ecology Cl. acerosum deviates from most other desmids in that it is often met with in organically contaminated waters. It also stands relatively high concentrations of mineral salts. In the Netherlands Cl. acerosum is of common occurrence in benthos of alkaline, saprobic waters. Zygospores have been encountered only incidentally.
Image © Alfred van Geest
Detail of cell wall showing a delicate striation.
Image © Henk Schulp
A cell of Closterium acerosum amongst detritus, bacteria and other microbes indicating an organically contaminated environment.
Image © Henk Schulp
Conjugating cells of Closterium acerosum producing a globular, smooth-walled zygospore.