Closterium kuetzingii (Brebisson, 1856)

Most likely ID: n.a.

 

Synonym: n. a.

 

Sampling location: Simmelried

 

Phylogenetic tree: Closterium kuetzingii

 

Diagnosis: 

  • cell body attenuating into long narrow ends, mid-body spindle-shaped
  • length 270–550 µm, width 18–30 µm
  • the distal ends are curved, slightly swollen, with an apical porus
  • two chloroplasts with each 5 lamellae in each half-cell
  • at the distal ends of the chloroplasts each one vacuole filled with oval shaped crystals
  • in each chloroplast with 4–6 pyrenoids
  • cell wall brownish, with striation of 8–11 lines/10 µm
  • nucleus central between the chloroplasts
Closterium-kuetzingii
Closterium kuetzingii

I find Closterium kuetzingii regularly in the Simmelried. The shape of the cell is somewhat reminiscent of an arch. The ends of the cells are slightly bent. Closterium kuetzingii can be distinguished from the similar species Closterium rostratum and Closterium setaceum by the shape and length half cells. In Closterium setaceum, the distal ends are much more elongated and slender, while Closterium rostratum is more squat in appearance and has shorter and thicker distal ends.

Closterium-kuetzingii

Fig. 1: Closterium kuetzingii. L = 578 µm. Total view of a slightly squashed specimen. Obj. 40 X.

Closterium-kuetzingii

Fig. 2 a-b: Closterium kuetzingii. L = 578 µm. Two focal planes of the spindle-shaped mid-body. Nu = nucleus, PY = pyrenoids, SG = starch grains. Obj. 60 X.

Closterium-kuetzingii

Fig. 3: Closterium kuetzingii. At the distal end of each chloroplast a vacuole filled with oval crystals (VC) is located. Obj. 60 X.

Closterium-kuetzingii

Fig. 4: Closterium kuetzingii. The distal end of a cell in detail. Note the slightly swollen distal end with an apical porus (PO). Obj. 100 X.