Cosmarium subcostatulum

Cosmarium subcostatulum


Cosmarium subcostatulum. Notice trapeziform-subsemicircular outline of semicells with crenate margin. Notice also circular cell wall ornamentation in centre of semicells.
Cell dimensions ( L x B): 25 x 23 µm


 


Desmid of the Month
March 2025

Cosmarium subcostatulum*


C. subcostatulum belongs to the large group of Cosmaria with a crenulate-granulate cell wall.
In size and outline it resembles C. dickii (desmid of February 2024). However, whereas the semicell centre of C. dickii is about smooth-walled, in C. subcostatulum some four longitudinal rows of granules may be distinguished, the exterior ones being bent to each other so that an almost closed circle is formed.
In the Netherlands, C. subcostatulum is of rather common occurrence in various mesotrophic water bodies.

* Also known as C. subcostatum var. minus West et G.S.West


Empty cell of C. subcostatulum showing cell wall ornamentation in detail.