Observations on Micrasterias jenneri

Description: The cells are appr. 1.5 times longer than wide, rounded off rectangular in shape. The cells have five lobes, the lateral lobes are broadened towards the periphery and emaginated in the center, the cuts between them are closed and short. The lateral lobes aren’t spread apart, they are strongly widened peripherally and rounded with shallow emarginations in the center. The central cut is deep, closed, and not peripherally widened.

Dimension: Length (130)–150–180–(200) µm, width (80)–100–130–(150) µm, L/W (1.3)–1.4–1.5–(1.6).

Occurrence: Acidophilic alga, lives in sphagnum ponds together with other algae which prefer upland moor waters. Probably ubiquitous, mainly in colder zones.

Left: Original graphic by Prof. Lenzenweger.
Right: Photomicrograph by Prof. Lenzenweger. For microphotography, the microscope illumination was adjusted in such a way that as many features as possible that are important for species identification are prominently displayed.

Copyright by Prof. Rupert Lenzenweger, Ried im Innkreis, Austria.