Microspora floccosa
(Vaucher) Thuret, 1850
Most likely ID: n.a.
Synonym: n.a.
Sampling location: Suploch (Hiddensee)
Phylogenetic tree: Microspora floccosa
Diagnosis:
- filaments straight of cylindrical cells, sometimes slightly barrel-shaped
- cells 14–18 µm wide, 0.6–2.5 times longer than wide
- cell wall thin, smooth, crosswalls sometimes slightly constricted
- chloroplast perforated or branched beaded ribbon
I found Microspora floccosa in the Suploch on the island Hiddensee, where this filamentous algae was present in large quantities. A typical characteristic of the genus Microspora is the perforated chloroplast, which thus appears net-like. The differentiation of the various species within the genus Microspora is based on the thickness of the cell wall, the diameter of the cells and the ratio between the diameter and length of the cells. The cells in my population were between 14-15 µm wide and about 35 µm long. The chloroplast is clearly perforated and the cell wall is thin and smooth. Therefore, only Microspora floccosa comes into question here.
Fig. 1 a-b: Microspora floccosa. L = 34–37 µm (of cells). Two focal planes of some cells in a 14 µm wide filament. Note the perforated chloroplast (Chl). Nu = nucleus. Obj. 100 X.
Fig. 2 a-b: Microspora floccosa. L = 34–37 µm (of cells). The same filament as shown in fig. 1 a-b in bright field illumination. Obj. 100 X.
Fig. 3 a-b: Microspora floccosa. L = 33–36 µm (of cells). Two focal planes of a second, 14 µm wide filament. Obj. 100 X.