Small colonial algae with sickle-shaped cells arranged irregularly in 3-planes.
5 species in USA differentiated by size of cell and degree of curvature measured by distance between apices (1970 ref.) (about 10µ in this species).
Top: Full frame image, 60x Nikon oil obj. on Olympus scope with Olympus 2.5x NFK relay lens (not the best configuration).
Bottom: enlargement.
These algae are relatively uncommon in my overwintering pond sample.
Posted here as an example for the genus; no other images on PMG.net.
NU.
student of entomology
Quote – Holmes on ‘Entomology’
” I suppose you are an entomologist ? “
” Not quite so ambitious as that, sir. I should like to put my eyes on the individual entitled to that name.
No man can be truly called an entomologist,
sir; the subject is too vast for any single human intelligence to grasp.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr
The Poet at the Breakfast Table.
Nikon camera, lenses and objectives
Olympus microscope and objectives
Selenastrum are strongly crescent-shaped, as in my image, and closely clustered. Ankistrodesmus are much straighter or only slightly crescent-shaped, often loosely entangled and frequently solitary.
Mitch:
In anticipation of you finding lots of algae you will find the following book a great help (if you can find a copy):
Prescott, G.W. 1970. How to Know The Freshwater Algae. 2nd Edn., maybe later editions available.
Has keys and lots of excellent line drawings; includes some desmids and some diatoms. Highly recommended.
NU.
student of entomology
Quote – Holmes on ‘Entomology’
” I suppose you are an entomologist ? “
” Not quite so ambitious as that, sir. I should like to put my eyes on the individual entitled to that name.
No man can be truly called an entomologist,
sir; the subject is too vast for any single human intelligence to grasp.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr
The Poet at the Breakfast Table.
Nikon camera, lenses and objectives
Olympus microscope and objectives
I have already spotted some of these in Johns Algae Tapestry thread. I did find a desmid a few months back, but it was tattered and not healthy looking, and, partly angled, so it was mostly out of focus.
This is a very interesting algae. I would not have guessed these are colonial. Looks like a loose gathering to my eyes. Thanks for the additional details.
Tom Webster
Phoenix "The Valley of the Sun", Arizona, USA
The worst day photographing dragonflies is better than the best day working!
