Stigonema spiniferum 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
Stigonemataceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Filaments 500-700 µ long, 35-45 µ (up to 60 µ) diam., very irregularly and profusely branched, no distinction into main fronds and branches; all branches more or less attenuated and terminating in more or less curved, spine-like, hormogonial portions ; cells multiseriate in part but usually 4-seriate, in distinct nodular clusters, when numerous subspherical, usually the longitudinal diameter longer than the cross diameter, olive-green, homogeneous; sheath 10-15 µ thick, hyaline, homogeneous, in age the teguments of the individual cells and groups of cells yellowish; the hormogoniferous apical portions, or branches, thick, white, attenuated to a very sharp point, 60-90 µ long; hormogonia usually clavate and uniseriate, larger at the outer end, escaping by rupture of the outer end of the spine; heterocysts sparse and inconspicuous.
Distribution and Ecology - Growing on soil at "Campo," Maricao, no. 1229, type.
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Discussion
PLATE 22, FIGURE 56
Stigonema spiniferum is closely related to S. cornutum of this paper, but differs from that species in having larger cells, fewer series of cells, and particularly in having all of the vegetative branches terminating in long, more or less curved, hyaline spines, bearing the hormogonia, whereas in S. cornutum the hormogoniferous branches are specialized.