Shimmering luster algae

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Shimmering luster algae
Shimmering luster algae (Nitella translucens)

Shimmering luster algae ( Nitella translucens )

Systematics
without rank: Phragmoplastophyta
without rank: Streptophyta
without rank: Chandelier algae (Charophyceae)
Family : Chandelier algae (Characeae)
Genre : Luster algae ( Nitella )
Type : Shimmering luster algae
Scientific name
Nitella translucens
( Persoon ) Agardh , 1807

The shimmering chandelier alga ( Nitella translucens ) belongs to the chandelier algae (Characeae). This monoecious species is almost exclusively found on the coasts of western and southern Europe.

Occurrence

The shimmering luster algae colonizes lime and electrolyte poor waters. Mostly it is widespread near the coasts. It is almost completely absent in inland Europe . Their main occurrence is in dystrophic waters such as bog lakes and can withstand a pH value of up to 5.8. The upper limit is around pH 7.0. The ground on which it grows is mostly muddy or muddy. It often grows on peat and only rarely on submarine sandy soils. She is halophobic , i.e. H. does not tolerate salt in the water. It is strongly threatened by the drainage of moors and generally by the eutrophication of its growing waters. Their total area only extends from North Africa to Northwest Asia . It is very rare in Eastern Europe.

Identifying features

The shimmering luster algae can reach a height of 1.30 m under optimal conditions. It often grows with long shoots that form very small whorls, ending at the bottom of the lake. It seldom becomes encrusted, has no connection, spines or stipulars . The rising rungs are often strongly curved under water, appear shiny, are translucent and are about 1 to 3 mm wide in diameter. It forms thick, undivided branches that are two to four, rarely six, in the whorl and are 1 to 8 cm long. At the top of the branches there are about 0.2 mm small, two-cell fork branches that are often missing or broken off. The maximally 40 cm long internodes are usually longer than the sparsely formed whorls.

Gametangia are formed in summer until December and are in stalked heads, usually come in threes there and sit on 1 to 3 cm long, downward-curved rungs. The oogonia are located below the colorless, about 0.32 mm in diameter large antheridium , are 2 or 3 together, are about 0.5 mm long and 0.4 mm wide and have seven to eight coils. The brown oospores are almost spherical, about 0.3 mm in diameter and have five or six well-developed ribs.

literature

  • Werner Krause, Hanuš Ettl , Georg Gärtner, H. Heynig, D. Mollenhauer: Freshwater flora of Central Europe. Volume 18: Charales (Charophyceae) . - Gustav Fischer Verlag, 1997. ISBN 3-437-25056-6

Web links

Commons : Nitella translucens  - album with pictures, videos and audio files