Anacystis magnifica 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 - Colonies spherical to subspherical, free, 80-125 µ (up to 175 µ) diam.; cells angular, irregular in shape and size, 11-15 µ diam., bright aeruginous, not densely crowded together, coarsely granular; resting spores 18-22 µ (up to 30 µ) diam., of the same shape as the cells, with a thick, hyaline wall closely beset with hyaline spines about 6 µ long, teguments firm, homogeneous throughout the colony, hyaline, 7-12 µ thick outside of the colony of cells.
Distribution and Ecology - Growing in association with other Myxophyceae, on a wall in Fort San Cristobal, San Juan, no. 2016 a, typo; on a water pipe near a stream at Maricao, no. 1148 c.
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Discussion
Anacystis magnifica is one member of the group of the genus in which the resting spores are much larger than the vegetative cells from which they arise, and it has more or less highly ornate spore walls. The white spines remain on as remnants until the new colony arising from the resting cells has attained almost half the mature size, but they disappear very gradually. At maturity no trace of them is to be seen on the limiting membrane.