Genus: Colonies of 4, 8, 16 or 32 cells in a gelatinous sheath; cell body long cylindroid,
strongly curved or twisted, both ends rounded; a chloroplast full within the cell;
a single pyrenoid
(Guide book to the "Photomicrographs of the Freshwater Algae", 1998).
Species: Colonies of 4-32 cells within a gelatinous matrix, cells crescent in shape, termini rounded, 8-12 μm long, 3-6 μm wide (Illustrations of The Japanese Fresh-water Algae, 1977). |
50 μm
100 μm
150 μm; x 400 :
31 μm
63 μm
94 μm; x 640
Kirchneriella contorta (Schmidle) Bohlin: Colonies of 4, 8, 16, 32 cells within a gelatinous matrix, Cell body slender cylindrical, curved or spirally twisted, sides nearly parallel, both ends rounded, 8-14 μm long, 1-3 μm wide; a single chloroplast filling the entire cel lbody, usually with one pyrenoids (Photomicrographs of the Freshwater Algae, 1984).
Kirchneriella lunaris (Kirchner) Moebius: Colonies of 4-32 cells within a gelatinous matrix, cells crescent in shape, termini rounded, 8-12 μm long, 3-6 μm wide (Illustrations of The Japanese Fresh-water Algae, 1977).
Kirchneriella obesa (W. West) Schmidle: Similar to K. lunaris but more spherical, 5-6 μm diam. (Illustrations of The Japanese Fresh-water Algae, 1977).
Kirchneriella acuminata Hirose et Akiyama: Colonies within a gelatinous matrix, cells crescent in shape, termini tapered, 25-30 μm long, 8-10 μm wide (Illustrations of The Japanese Fresh-water Algae, 1977).