In a 4‑week‑old sample from the Schwemm Moor in Austria, I found two dividing stages of Spirotaenia turfosa in June 2026. So far, I have not been able to find any further specimens.

The dividing cells were 15–28 µm long. This is significantly smaller than the range of 62–100 µm given by Lenzenweger (2003), but understandable for dividing cells. In the cells, the spiraling chloroplast is clearly recognizable. In the small cells (s fig. 1 a-b) there were 1.5–2 turns, while in the larger cells (s. fig. 2 a-b) I was able to discern 2–3 turns. In the larger cells this is one more than indicated by Lenzenweger. The length-to-width ratio in all dividing cells is 9. I was unable to identify pyrenoids in the spirals of the chloroplasts.

As alternative species, only Spirotaenia minuta and Spirotaenia parvula come into consideration. Spirotaenia minuta reaches a length of 15–25 µm and shows 2–3 turns. However, two cells are always slightly offset from one another within a common mucilage envelope. This was not the case with my specimens, which is why I excluded this species.