Tiny Organisms in Aquatic Habitats

Desmids –
Archaeplastida (Part)

Observations on Cosmarium elegantissimum f. minus

Position in the EOL taxonomic tree. Please click on the tree view below to access EOL (Encyclopedia of Life).

Cosmarium elegantissimum f. minus West 1892 (as ‘minor’)

Most likely ID: n.a.

Basionym: n.a.

Add’l Synonyms: n.a.

According to algaebase (*) this taxon is a synonym to Cosmarium simplicius.

Remarks on the synonymization of Cosmarium simplicius and Cosmarium elegantissimum forma minus:
The ornamentation of the cell surface of Cosmarium elegantissimum forma minus and the type variety (Cosmarium elegantissimum var. elegantissimum) is the same, namely double warts. In contrast, the warts of Cosmarium simplicius are described as single warts.

Therefore, in my opinion, this synonymization is questionable and should be reviewed.

(*) https://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=131597

E.A. Molinari Novoa in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 04 August 2024. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 11 April 2025

Cosmarium simplicius

Sampling date 06/2023. Scale bar indicates 25 µm.

Place name: Wetland Paradieswiese near Kitzbühel (Tyrol, Austria) 
Latitude: 47.47375067     Longitude: 12.37624884

Microscope Zeiss Axioplan, camera Olympus OM-D M5 MKII. DOF image.

Sampling date 06/2013. Scale bars indicate 25 µm.

Two images.

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Place name: Wetland Mittermoos near Fieberbrunn (Tyrol, Austria) 
Latitude: 47.47998695     Longitude: 12.5240922

Microscope Zeiss Universal, camera Canon 600D. DOF images.

© Wolfgang Bettighofer,
images under Creative Commons License V 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA).
For permission to use of (high resolution) images please contact postmaster@protisten.de.

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