Staurastrum striolatum
image © Marien van Westen

Staurastrum striolatum. Notice rounded semicell lobes rather abruptly passing into the somewhat elongate base of the semicell body. Cell dimensions (L x B): 26 x 30 µm.



Cosmarium crenatoides
image © Marien van Westen

Largely empty cell of St. striolatum showing cell wall granulation in the form of concentric rings around the semicell lobes.




 


Desmid of the Month
March 2026

Staurastrum striolatum


Staurastrum striolatum resembles St. alternans. Both species are characterized by finely granulate cells in which the angles of one semicell alternate with those of the other. As compared with St. alternans, however, semicell lobes in St. striolatum are more abruptly separated from a somewhat elongate semicell base. In the Netherlands, St. striolatum is of incidental occurrence in acidic, oligotrophic moorland pools.

Staurastrum striolatum
image © Alfred van Geest

A cell of St. striolatum (in frontal view) with converging semicell lobes.


Closterium diane
image © Alfred van Geest (mouse-over)

A cell of St. striolatum. in apical view showing alternating lobes of semicells.