Desmidium

Desmidium is one of the filamentous desmid genera characterized by rather firm intercellular connections. Cells connect to adjoining cells at the flat, apical face of the cells. The cells can be longer or shorter than wide. A median constriction of the cells may appear either as distinct or faint. Desmidium cell walls are smooth with multiple side-by-side or scattered pores. Every semicell contains one stellate chloroplast. Typically cells are oval in shape or have a three to five angle. Angles of the cell are often off-balance on each semicell. This creates a helical shape of angles throughout the filament. Cells may have either a pyrenoid (transparent structure) in each of its lobes or a single pyrenoid in the middle of the cell. The nucleus is found in the conjoined area of semicells (isthmus). After cell division daughter cells stick together so that the filament in question increases in length. Moreover, cell filaments are markedly twisted, to be seen from a gradual shift in position of the cellular lobe facing the observer. In case of conjugation (almost) all cells in the paired filaments are sexually activated, resulting in a series of zygospores coupling the empty cell filaments

• The genus name of Desmidium - derived from the Greek word 'desmos' (= ribbon, chain or bond) - presumably gave rise to the family name of Desmidiaceae.