Gloeocapsa sphaerica N.L.Gardner
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Authority
Gardner, Nathaniel L. 1927. New Myxophyceae from Porto Rico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 7: 1-144. pl. 1-23.
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Family
Microcystaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Families spherical to irregular in outline, containing a variable number of cells, up to 128 before the dissolution of the general tegument, soft, subgelatinous, adhering to each other at times, forming masses microscopic in size; cells spherical to slightly elongated before division, yellowish green, 2-2.3 µ diam., usually separated from each other in the colony by 2-3 times their diam.; teguments homogeneous, opalescent, ample, smooth on the surface; teguments of individual cells arising soon after cell division, not persisting long, but merging into the colonial tegument.
Distribution and Ecology - Growing on limestone between Arecibo and Utuado, no. 1482 a, type.
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Discussion
PLATE 3, FIGURE 26
The distinguishing feature of this species of Gloeocapsa is the perfectly spherical form of the young colonies with an ample, homogeneous, opalescent tegument, and not a more or less angular colony, as is the case in most species of the genus in the juvenile stage. It seems closely related to G. squamulosa Breb., which has a thick, hyaline tegument. It differs from that species in having the cells associated into much larger families, with a larger number of cells in the family.