Bull. Natn. Sci. Mus., Tokyo, Ser. B, 23(2), pp. 59-80, June 24, 1997

Contribution to the desmid flora of the Primorsky
Territory, Russia
A. A. Gontcharov
Institute of Biology and Soil Science, Far Eastern Branch Russian
Academy of Sciences, 690022, Vladivostok-22
Abstract The desmid flora of the Primorsky Territory (Russian Far East) is investigated. In the present paper 55 taxa of the genera Closterium, Pleurotaenium,
Euastrum, Micrasterias, Actinotaenium, Cosmarium , Xanthidium, Staurodesmus,
Staurastrum, Desmidium , Sphaerozosma are presented. Among them 19 species
and 17 varieties are reported for the first time from Russia. Some of the taxa
showed variations in morphology and these variations and differences withprevious records are discussed with biogeographical notes.
Key words: Desmids, new records, Russia, Primorsky Territory.

The Primorsky Territory is very rich in aquatic habitats, and algae arediverse here. For 70 years, the species composition in 79 rivers, 68 smaller
streams, 26 lakes and 7 reservoirs has been studied. A few detailed reviews of
the history of these studies have been published (Kukharenko, 1974a, 1989;
Medvedeva & Barinova, 1990). At present, the list of freshwater algae of thisregion accounts for 1,659 species, 297 of these belonging to the order Desmidiales(Gontcharov, in press). However, this number is far from complete that reflects
the natural diversity of the desmids actually existing there. It should be emphasized that until now, no special taxonomic study of these algae has been
undertaken and all desmid species were noted during floristic research in theabove-mentioned waterbodies.
The present paper deals with Desmidiales which have been found for the firsttime in the Primorsky Territory. Some of these algae exhibited a wide range ofmorphological variability. In these cases, I tried to examine as many specimens as
possible to estimate limits of this variability in the natural populations. These
reports will appear elsewhere. For a few species, morphological features which
differ from previous data were revealed and discussed.
Samples for this investigation were collected during 1988- 1996 from localities listed below (Fig. 1) by mainly squeezing aquatic plants and scraping different
natural substrata. Material was fixed by 4% neutral formaldehyde. Samples were
examined under the Olympus CH-2 light microscope in the Laboratory of
Biological Sciences, Faculty of Education, Ibaraki University, Japan. The samples are deposited at the Herbarium, Department of Botany, National Science60

A. A. Gontcharov

Fig. 1. Map showing the localities of the sampling sights in the Primorsky Territory. Dotline indicates a boundary of Russian Federation, Ll-sampling sights.

Museum (TNS), Japan.
The enumeration of the species is in accordance with the system of Ruzicka( 1977). Concerning the concept of the genusArtrodesmus Ehr. ex Ralfs, the viewof Teiling (1948) is followed. The arrangement of the species within each genus
is alphabetical.
All dimensions are given in micrometers; the following abbreviations areused: L = length of cell, W = width of cell, T = thickness of cell, I = breadth ofisthmus, csp = with spines, ssp = without spines, cpr = with processes, spr = without processes and Lac. = locality.
The distribution of the taxa in the territory of Russia is cited PalamarMordvintceva (1982), otherwise, references are given.
Localities:
1. 1988.08.2G-22. 134 °50' 46"E, 45 °54'06" N. Mesotrophic meander-typelake in Bolshaya Ussurka river basin. T = 19- 21 °C, pH = 6.8.
2. 1995.08.10, 1996.07.28. 130°58'12"£, 42°47'N. Small swampy lakes
and ponds near Riazanovka station. T = 22- 26 °C, pH = 6.3- 6.8.
3. 1995.10.07. 137°58'25 " £, 47 ° 11 ' 18"N. Eliseevskoye Lake (peatbog) .
Peya plateau, elevation 700m. T = 14°C, pH = 5.1.
4. 1996.07.15. 132° 15' 28 " £ , 43 °24'38"N. Small swampy lakes and drainage channel near Artem-II station. T = 23 °C, pH = 6.7.
5. 1996.07.22. 132°02 ' 13" £, 43 ° 14' 28 " N . Small swampy lakes near Sputnik station. T = 24 o C, pH = 6. 7.

Contribution to the desmid flora of the Primorsky Territory61

In all localities except 3 merged and submerged aquatic vegetation was welldeveloped.
SPECIES ENUMERATION
Order Desmidiales
Family Closteriaceae Pritch.
Closterium Nitzsch ex Ralfs
C. praelongum Breb.
Fig. 2.
L 65D--820 ,urn, W 18,8- 38,8 ,urn, apex 5 ,urn. Loc. 2.
This species often occurs in western regions of Russia and in some places inSiberia. In the far-eastern part of the country, it has been known only in
Kamchatka (Kossinskaya, 1960) .
Family Desmidiaceae Ralfs
Pleurotaenium Nag.
P. truncatum (Breb.) Nag.
Fig. 3.
L 475 ,urn, W 67,5 ,urn, I 55 ,urn, apex 35 ,urn. Loc. 2.
Species is distributed mainly in the boreal regions of Russia. In the easternpart of the country, it has been reported from the Kuril Islands and Yakutia(Kossinskaya, 1960).
Euastrum Ehr. ex Ralfs
E. dubium Nag. var. ornatum Wolosz.
Fig. 4.
L 30 ,urn, W 23,8 ,urn, I 7,5 ,urn. Loc. 1.
Perhaps, this variety is reported for the first time in Russia. Type variety ofthe species has been found in the territory of the region of a small mountain lake
(Medvedeva, 1984).
E. sinuosum Lenorm. var. aboense (Elfv.) Cedergr.
Fig. 5.
L 68,8 ,urn, W 3D--35 ,urn, I 8,8 ,urn. Loc. 3.
This variety was found in central regions of Russia as well as in the Kuril
Islands (Kossinskaya, 1960) .
E. sinuosum var. perforatum Krieg.
L 75 ,urn, W 42,5 ,urn, I 10 ,urn. Loc. 2.
This variety is new to Russia.

Micrasterias Ag. ex Ralfs
M. fimbriata Ralfs var. spinosa (Biss.) Croasd.
L 273 ,urn, W 250 ,urn, I 37,5 ,urn. Loc. 2.

Fig. 6.

Fig. 7.

62

A. A . Gontcharov

Figs. 2- 10.

63

Contribution to the desmid flora of the Primorsky Territory

This form is reported for the first time in the eastern regions of Russia. The
var. jimbriata has been reported from the Territory in two lakes situated on theeastern slopes of Sikhote-Aline Mts. (Medvedeva, 1986).
Fig. 8.
M. foliacea Bail. ex Ralfs
L 53,6-63,3 ,urn, W 56 ,urn, I 13,8 ,urn. Loc. 2.
This species was found for the first time in the territory of Russia by Hahina(1948) in Bolon Lake (Amur riv. basin) but Kossinskaya (1960, p. 486) questioned this finding because of the lack of dimensions and illustrations in Hahina's
paper. Bolon Lake is situated only 800 km north of the above mentioned localities
and I think that the previous finding is not doubtful.

Actinotaenium Teil.
Fig. 9.
A. cucurbitinum (Biss.) Teil.
L 65- 72,5,um, W 30,um, I 27,5,um. Loc. 2.
Although this species was found in some places in Western Siberia, it has
never been reported in the far-eastern region of Russia.
A. tesellatum (Nordst.) Pal.-Mordv.
Syn.: Cosmarium tesellatum (Delp.) Nordst.
L 102,5 ,urn, W 58 ,urn, I 45 ,urn. Loc. 1.
This species is new to Russia.

Fig. 10.

Fig. 11.
A. turgidum (Bn!b.) Teil.
Syn.: Cosmarium turgidum Breb.
L 218 ,urn, W 105 ,urn, I 100 ,urn. Loc. 4.
In the far-eastern region of country, it was reported in the Khabarovsky
Territory.

Cosmarium Corda ex Ralfs
C. bigemma Racib.
L 32,5-38,8,um, W 3o-32,um, I 8,3,um. Loc. 1.
This species has never been found previously in Russia.

Fig. 12.

Figs. 2- 10. - - 2. Closterium praelongum Breb. 3. Pleurotaenium truncatum (Breb.) Nag.
4. Euastrum dubium Nag. var. ornatum Wolosz. 5. E. sinuosum Lenorm. var. aboense(Eifv.) Cedergr. 6. E. sinuosum var. perforatum Krieg. 7. Micrasterias fimbriata Ralfs
var. spinosa Biss. 8. M. foliacea Bail. ex Ralfs. 9. Actinotaenium cucurbitinum (Biss.)
Teil. 10. A. tesellatum (Nordst.) Pai.-Mordv. Scale bar fig. 2 = 200tLm, fig. 3 = 150
tfiD, fig. 4- 6, 8- 10 = 30 tfiD, fig. 7 = 90 tfiD.

A. A. Gontcharov

64

C. botrytis Menegh. ex Ralfs var. emarginatum Hansg.

Fig. 13.
L 42,5 ,urn, W 37,4 ,urn, I 12,5 ,urn. Loc. 2,4.
This variety is reported for the first time in the Primorsky Territory but var.
botrytis is widely distributed in the waterbodies of the region (Kukharenko,
1989) .
C. ceratophorum Liitkem.

Fig. 14.
L 25- 37,5 ,urn, W 25- 32,4 ,urn, I 5- 7,5 ,urn, T 12,5- 15 ,urn. Loc. 2.
To date, this species has never been reported for Russia.
Specimens examined here well agree with Gronbladt's (1921, p. 33, Pl. 6, fig .
31- 34) description and figure of this species. He put it as a "forma" of
Liitkemiiller's species (1911, p. 485, Taf. II, fig. 6- 8) . Both Gronbladt's specimens and those I studied have rounded granules (acute in diagnosis). All otherfeatures are the same as in original description.

C. clepsydra Nordst. var. hoglandiae Gronbl.

Fig. 15.
L 22,5- 23,8 ,urn, W 22,5- 23 ,8 ,urn, I 7 ,urn. Loc. 1.
The variety under discussion has been known from only the north-westernregions in Russia.

C. conspersum Ralfs var. latum (Breb.) W . et G . S. West

Fig. 27.

L 75 ,urn, W 57,5 ,urn, I 17,5 ,urn. Loc. 2.
This species is common in the western regions of Russia up to Western
Siberia. However, it is new to the far-eastern region.
C. depressum (Nag.) Lund. var. reniforme W. et G. S. West

Fig. 16.
L 20,5 ,urn, W 20 ,urn, I 4,3 ,urn. Loc. 2.
This variety is reported for the first time in the eastern regions of Russia.

C. elegantissimum Lund. var. elegantissimum

Fig. 17.
L 80 ,urn, W 32,5 ,urn, I 25 ,urn. Loc. 2.
This is the first finding of this typical variety on Primorsky Territory and thewhole far-eastern region of Russia. Previously, the var. minor W. et G. S. Westhas been reported in the Territory.

Figs. 11- 19. - - 11. A. turgidum (Breb.) Teil. 12. Cosmarium bigemma Racib. 13. C.
botrytis Menegh. ex ralfs var. emarginatum Hansg. 14. C. ceratophorum Liitkem. 15.
C. clepsydra Nordst. var. hoglandiae Gronbl. 16. C. depressum (Niig.) Lund. var.
reniforme W . et G . S. West. 17. C. elegantissimum Lund . 18. C. fastidiosum W. et G .
S. West. 19. C. hornavanense Gutw . var. dubovianum (Liitkem.) Ruzicka. Scale bar
fig. 11 = 60tLm, fig. 12- 15, 16, 18 = 20tLm, fig. 15, 16, 19 = 30 tL m.

Contribution to the desmid flora of the Primorsky Territory

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66

A. A. Gontcharov

C. fastidiosum W. et G. S. West
Fig. 18.
L 23,8 .urn, W 22 .urn, I 8,8 .urn. Lac. 1.
It seems to be the first finding of this species in the Far East.
Specimens examined are essentially smaller than that has been reported forthis variety (37-38 X 33- 36.um (Prescott et al., 1981)) but the shape of the cells
and characters of cell-wall ornamentation well agree with West's description andfigure (West & West, 1897, p. 489, Pl. 6, fig. 11) .
C. hornavanense Gutw. var. dubovianum (Ltitkem.) Ruzicka
L 77,5 .urn, W 52,5- 55 .urn, I 16,3 .urn. Lac. 2.
This is the first report of this variety in the territory of Russia.

Fig. 19.

C. incrassatoplicatum HinodeFig. 20.
L 3o-35,5.um, W 22,5- 27,5.um, I 6,3- 7,5.um, T 17,5.um. Lac. 2.
This appears to be the first finding of this species outside Japan.
The specimens from samples studied exhibit a wide variation in cell-shapeand degree of cell-wall thickness.
C. laeve Rabenh. var. depressum Croasd.
L 15- 17,5.um, W 16,3- 18.um, I 3,8- 5.um, T 8.um. Lac. 4, 5.
This variety is new to Russia.

. Fig. 21.

C. magnificum Nordst. var. subsirculare Skuja
Fig. 22.
L 100 .urn, W 72,5 .urn, I 22,5 .urn, T 45 .urn. Lac. 1.
The variety is reported for the first time in Russia.
A very similar alga was illustrated by Hinode ( 1965, Fig. 9, 23, Pl. 6, 11) as
C. pseudomagnificum Hinode.
C. malinvernianum (Racib.) Schmidle
Fig. 28.
L 52,5- 55 .urn, W 42,5- 47,5 .urn, I 15 .urn, T 27,5 .urn. Lac. 2.
We can not estimate the real distribution of this alga in the territory of
Russia because Palamar-Mordvintceva (1982, p. 456, fig. 121 , 2- 4) followed theWests (1908) and treated it as a synonym of the very common species, C.
margaritiferum Menegh. ex Ra1fs. The differences between these two algae werediscussed by Gronbladt (1921 , p. 32- 33) and I agree with his point of view.
Alga under discussion has also some resemblance to C. trachypleurum andsome its varieties. Raciborsky (1889, p. 19, Tab. 1, fig . 40) compared his taxa to
C. trachypleurum var. verrucosum Kirchn. Gronbladt et al. ( 1964) also stressed
the similarity of C. malinvernianum and above-mentioned species. Both species
have a very similar shape of cells and the same pattern of cell-wall granulation.
However, they differ in the midregion granulation.

67

Contribution to the desmid flora of the Primorsky Territory

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20
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Figs. 2G-26. - - 20. C. incrassatoplicatum Hinode. 21. C. laeve Rabenh. var. depressum
Croasd. 22. C. magnificum Nordst. var. subcirculare Skuja. 23 . C. monomazum Lund.
var. amazum Wolosz. 24. C. novae-semliae Wille var. granulatum Schmidle. 25. C.
novae-semliae var. sibiricum Boldt. 26. C. ochthoides Nordst. Scale bar fig. 20, 22,
26 = 30tLm, fig. 21, 23- 25 = 20tLm.

A. A. Gontcharov

68

C. monomazum Lund. var. amazum W olosz.
Fig. 23.
L 35 ,urn, W 31,5 ,urn, I 1o-11 ,urn. Loc. 1.
This is the first finding of this variety in the waterbodies of the Primorsky
Territory but the typical variety (Barinova, 1986) and var. polymazum Nordst.
(Kukharenko, 1974 b, c) have been found there earlier.
C. novae-semliae Wille var. granulatum Schmidle
Fig. 24.
I 16,3 ,urn, W 16,3 ,urn, I 7,5 ,urn, T 8,3 ,urn. Loc. 2.
This variety has never been reported in Russia. From my point of view, analga in Kossinskaya's drawing in Palamar-Mordvintceva's monograph ( 1982, Fig.
85, 17) is similar to the var. granulatum, and thus indicating the distribution ofthis variety.
C. novae-semliae var. sibiricum Boldt
Fig. 25 .
L 12,5- 13,8 ,urn, W 12,5- 13,8 ,urn. I 6,3- 7,5 ,urn, T 6,3- 7,5 ,urn. Loc. 4.
The variety under discussion is reported for the first time in the far-easternregion of the country.
C. ochthoides Nordst.

Fig. 26.
L 75- 85 ,urn, W 52,5- 62,5 ,urn, I 17,5 ,urn, T 33,5- 35 ,urn. Loc. 2.
This species is widely distributed in Russia but is reported for the first timein the Primosky Territory.

C. pseudopyramidatum Lund.
Fig. 29.
L 52,5 ,urn, W 35 ,urn, I 12,5 ,urn. Loc. 2.
This species is widely distributed in Russia but is reported for the first timein the Primosky Territory.
C. simplicius (W. et G. S. West) Gronbl.
Syn. : C. elegantissimum Lund. var. simplicius W . et G. S. West

Fig. 30.

I 47,5 ,urn, W 20 ,urn, I 17,5 ,urn. Loc. 2.
This species is being reported for the first time in Russia.
C. sphagnicolum W. et G . S. West

Fig. 31.

L 12,5 ,urn, W 12,5 ,urn. I 5 ,urn. Loc. 2.
This is the first finding of the species in the eastern regions of the country.
The cell shape of the specimens seen has a resemblance to C. pygmaeumArch. but its vertical view is typical of C. sphagnicolum.
C. striolatum Nag.

L 132,5- 142,5 ,urn, W 58-67,5 ,urn. I 5o-60 ,urn. Loc. 2.

Fig. 32.

Contribution to the desmid flora of the Primorsky Territory
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33

Figs. 27- 34. - - 27. C. conspersum Ralfs var. latum (Breb.) W. et G . S. West. 28. C.
malinvernianum (Racib.) Schmidle. 29. C. pseudopyramidatum Lund. 30. C. simplicius(W. et G. S. West) Griinbl. 31. C. sphagnicolum W. et G . S. West. 32. C. striolatum
Nag. 33. C. trachypleurum Lund. var. fa/lax Liitkem. 34. Xanthidium cristatum Breb.
var. uncinatum Breb. f. polonicum Gutw. Scale bar fig. 27- 34 = 30 ,um.

70

A. A . Gontcharov

In Russia, the species was previously reported only a few times m thenorth-western regions.
Fig. 33.
L 43,8 .urn, W 32,5- 38 .urn, I 13,8 .urn, T 23,8- 25 .urn. Lac. 2.
This is the first finding of the variety in the territory of Russia.
Specimens examined here had only one series of granules within the margins.
The number of concentric series of granules in the midregion varies, either one or
two. All other features agree completely with the original diagnosis. As was
illustrated by Li.itkemi.iller (1911, p. 495, Taf. Ill, fig. 1- 4), the midregion
granulation is a variable feature of this variety.
The taxon under discussion has a close resemblance to C. miraculum Gronbl.
in the shape of cells and isthmus, pattern of intramarginal granulation andpresence of one granule above the isthmus. Only triangular scrobiculations withno punctulation between the central granules differ the latter species. However,as was illustrated by Croasdale and Gronbladt (1964, p. 182. PI. 14, fig . 14- 17) ,this feature does not seem to be constant.
Gronbladt (1921, p. 33- 34, PI. 6, fig. 35- 37) compared C. miraculum with C.
trachypleurum var. stellatum Racib. and pointed out that these species differ intheir granulation. From my point of view, C. trachypleurum var. fa/lax and C.
miraculum are very closely related. The supraisthmal granulation is a rather
distinctive feature which is absent in a typical variety of the former species and it
may be better to raise var. fa/lax as a species and to consider C. miraculum within
the last one as a variety.

C. trachypleurum Lund. var. fa/lax Li.itkern.

Xanthidium Ehr. ex Ralfs
X. cristatum Bn!b. var. uncinatum Breb. f. polonicum Gutw.
Fig. 34.
L ssp 55 .urn, W ssp 47,5 .urn, Land W csp 67,5 .urn, I 15 .urn. Lac. 2.
This form is reported for the firs time in this Territory.
Staurodesmus Teil.
S. grand is (Bulnh.) Teil.
Fig. 35.
Syn.: Staurastrum grande Bulnh.
L 72,5 .urn, W 70 .urn, I 25 .urn. Lac. 2.
The species seems not to be rare in the western part of Russia but this is thefirst record of it in the eastern regions of the country.
S. megacanthus (Lund.) Thunm. var. scoticus (West) Lillier
Fig. 36.
Syn.: Staurastrum megacanthum Lund. var. scoticum W. et G . S. West.
L ssp 25 .urn, L csp 35 m, W ssp 32,5 .urn, W csp 47,5- 52,5 .urn, I 6,3 .urn.
Lac. 2.

Contribution to the desmid flora of the Primorsky Territory

71

37

40
Figs. 35- 40. - - 35. Staurodesmus grandis (Bulnh.) Teil. 36. S. megacanthus (Lund.)Thum. var. scoticus (WEst) Lillier. 37. Staurastrum avicula Breb. var. coronulatum
Wade. 38. S. barbatum W. et G. S. West. 39. S. bicoronatum Johns. 40. S. brachiatun
Ralfs. Scale bar fig. 35 = 30,um, 37- 40 = 20,um.

72

A. A. Gontcharov

Previously, in the Primorsky Territory, only the var. orientalis (Scott et
Prescott) Teil. of this species was reported.

Staurastrum Meyen ex Ralfs
S. avicula Breb. var. coronulatum Wade

Fig. 37.
L ssp 25- 27,5 .urn, W ssp 32,2- 37,5 .urn, I 12,5 .urn. Loc. 2.
This variety is new to Russia.
A similar alga was illustrated by Nygaard (1977, p. 95 , 96, Fig. 85) as a
" forma" of S. pelagicum W. et G. S. West.
Some specimens with angles bearing a single spine were found . They havethe same dimensions and the cell-wall ornamentation is not well developed.
However, it has the same pattern as a typical specimens.

S. barbatum W. et G. S. West

Fig. 38.
L spr 17,5 .urn, W cpr 37,5 .urn. I 5- 6,3 .urn. Loc. 3.
This species is reported for the first time in Russia.
All the specimens have processes with 3 spines-tipped nodulations ( 4 inoriginal diagnosis (West & West, 1896, p. 265. Pl. 17, fig. 11) and are furnishedwith 3 spines (teeth in the diagnosis).

S. bicoronatum Johns

Fig. 39.
L spr 25 .urn, W cpr 30 .urn, I 7,5 .urn. Loc. 1.
Previously, this species was reported only in the north-western part ofRussia.
The dimensions of the specimens examined are slightly bigger than that is
usually reported for this species.

S. brachiatun Ralfs

Fig. 40.
L spr 16,6.um, W cpr 27,5.um, I 7 .urn. Loc. 3.
This species is widely distributed in the territory of Russia but, in the
far-eastern part, it was known only in the Kuril Islands.

S clevei (Wittr.) Roy et Biss.
Fig. 41.
L cpr 28,8 .urn, W spr 20 .urn, cpr 38,5- 42,5 m, I 9 .urn. Loc. 3.
In Russia, this species was reported only in the north-western territories.
S. depressipes Scott et Gronbl.

Fig. 42.
L spr 10 .urn, L cpr 25- 30 .urn, W spr 10 .urn, W cpr 25- 30 .urn, I 5- 6,3 .urn.
Loc. 4.
This species is reported for the first time in Russia and perhaps this is a firstfinding of the species in Asia.

Contribution to the desmid flora of the Primorsky Territory73

I used this epithet for the specimens with some doubt. According to Scottand Gronbladt ( 19 57), S. depressipes has a transverse series of short spines
immediately above the isthmus. All varieties of the species possess this feature but
the numbers of spines are different. Two taxa of the species, var. depressipes f.
protuberans Scott et Gronbl. and var. planiceps Scott et Gronbl., have a mamillate
protrusion on either side. A distinct feature of var. depressipes is the truncate
protuberances at the base of the arms.
The specimens examined have only two pairs of spines at the lateral sides ofthe semicell's base; and the dorsal and lateral sides of the processes are furnishedwith relatively stout spines. To some extent, this alga exhibits an intermediate
form between the typical variety and others, which do not have any decorations
at the base of the processes. A vertical view of the alga under discussion is very
similar to one of var. planiceps: cells are oval with a protrusion on either side
furnished with 1 or 2 spines.
Thus, the specimens from studied locality have a resemblance to somevarieties of S. depressipes but dissimilarities are also present. Perhaps, further
study of the morphological variability of the above mentioned taxa will make thetaxonomic position of this alga clear.
S. elaticeps Scott et Gronbl. var. tenue Scott et Gronbl.
Fig. 43.
L spr 32,5- 33,8 ,urn, W cpr 57,8- 65 ,urn, I 15 ,urn, T 15 ,urn. Lac. 2.
The species is reported for the first time in Russia.
The specimens examined differ from the diagnosis (Scott & Gronbladt, 1957,
p. 37, Pl. 27, fig. 5) in lacking granules on the elevated midsector of the apex.
However, they have the same shape of cells and direction of processes as
illustrated in this variety. In the vertical view, the specimens are obviously
rhomboid with dilated and more or less rounded sides.

S. forficulatum Lund.
Fig. 44.
L spr 37,5- 45 ,urn, W spr 3G-50 ,urn, L cpr 50 ,urn, W cpr 62,5 ,urn, I 16 ,urn.
Loc. 1, 2, 3.
In Russia, this species was recorded mainly in the western and north-westernregions and also in the Kuril Islands.
The specimens examined have stouter lateral spines than is usually pictured
for this species and its varieties. There are various interpretations of this species
by the modern taxonomists (Palamar-Mordvintceva, 1982; Prescott et al., 1982)
but I follow the latter authors. As well it is possible to compare the studiedmaterial with S. furcatum (Ehr. ex Ralfs) Breb. var. pisciforme (Turner) IreneeMarie (Irenee-Marie, 1939, p. 329. Pl. 55, figs. 9, 10). However, the dimensionsof the later alga is twice as small. From my point of view, complex S.
forficulatum-S. furcatum and relevant species needs careful examination in terms

74

A. A. Gontcharov

42

43

45
Figs. 41- 47. - - 41. S. clevei (W. H.) Roy et Biss. 42. S. depressipes Scott et Griinbl. 43 .
S. elaticeps Scott et Gronbladt var. tenue Scott et Gronbladt. 44. S. forficulatum Lund.
45 . S. gemelliparum Nordst. 46. S. hystrix (Ralfs.) Pal. -Mordv. 47. S. inconspicuum
Nordst. Scale bar fig. 41, 43, 44, 46, 47 = 20ttm, 42 = 15ttm, 45, 46 = 30ttm.

Contribution to the desmid flora of the Primorsky Territory75

of morphological variability.
Algae from locality 2 exhibit a very wide range of variation in cell-shape,cell-wall ornamentation, and length of apical processes.

S. gemelliparum Nordst.
Fig. 45.
Syn.: S. duplex Wolle 1883, Bull. Torr. Bot. Club 10: 19. PI. 27, fig. 10.
L spr 25- 30 ,urn, W spr 25- 27 ,urn. I 10 ,urn. Loc. 1.
Previously, this species was reported in Russia in the north-western territories.
The similarity of the taxon under discussion and S. quadrangulare (Breb.)
Ralfs was stressed by a few authors (West et al., 1923; Croasdale, 1957) .
However, from my point of view, the diagnosis and figures of S. gemelliparum(Nordstedt, 1870, p. 230. PI. 4, fig. 54) and S. duplex Wolle are taxonomically
identical and I propose to consider the latter one as being synonymous with S.
quadricornutum.
Some of the specimens had 3 processes on each basal angle as inS. hantzschii
Reinsch or its varieties. All processes of these algae were tipped with tree spines.
However, the vertical view of these cells was clearly triangular with widely
concaved margins between processes which is not typical for the mentioned
species. The dimensions of such cells were 1. 5 times smaller than that was
indicated for S. hantzschii.
S. hystrix Ralfs.
Fig. 46.
Syn. : Cosmoastrum hystrix (Ralfs.) Pal.-Mordv.
L ssp 37,5 ,urn, W ssp 30 ,urn, I 20 ,urn. Loc. 3.
This species is widely distributed throughout the whole territory of Russia
including the nearest of our regions, i.e. Khabarovsky Territory, the Kuril Islands
and Kamchatka.
S. inconspicuum Nordst.
Fig. 47.
L spr 15 ,urn, W spr 11 ,5 ,urn, L cpr 15- 16,5 ,urn, W cpr 15- 18 ,urn, I 5-7 ,urn.
Loc. 3.
This species is widely distributed in the territory of Russia but in the easternregion it was known only in the Kuril Islands. Moreover, I found it in the samples
from Kamchatka (unpublished).
S. longebrachiatum (Borge) Gutw. var. jloridense Scott et Gronbl.
Fig. 48.
L spr 45 ,urn, W spr 17,5- 20 ,urn, W cpr 9G-95 ,urn, I 13,8 ,urn, T 15,5- 20 ,urn.
Loc. 2.
This species is reported for the first time in Russia.
All the specimens examined had tree granules in the isthmal region, one of

76

A. A. Gontcharov

these granules was always within isthmal notch. The shape of the semicell basewas not a constant feature of our specimens. It varies from a bowl-shape as
typical for this variety to cylindrical with straight lateral sides or even subtrapeziform.
Fig. 49.
S. rnanfeldtii Delp.
L spr 37,5- 43,8 flm, W spr 17,5- 20/lm, W cpr 65- 75/lm, I 1o-1611m.
Loc. 2.
In Russia, this species was reported only in the Volga river basin.
The taxonomy of this species is rather unclear (Teiling, 1947; Coesel, 1992;
Sharf, 1995) and I used this ephitet with some doubt. The specimens examined
well resemble Ruzicka's drawings (1973, Taf. 15, fig. lo-18, asS. rnanfeldtii var.
parvurn Messik.) but have processes tipped with 3 teeth. A few specimens with
two spines at the base of the processes were found . This pattern of processes
ornamentation also was illustrated by the previously mentioned author (Taf. 15,
fig. 15, 16). The apex's ornamentation of the alga was the same as usually
illustrated in this species. Sometimes six central granules form a distinct circle.
It should be mentioned that in one pond at the same locality, specimens
possible to identify asS. sebaldii Reinsch var. ornaturn Nordst. were found. They
differ in dimensions (72,5 X 85 flm), stoutness of ornamentation of the processes
and apex and have 4 granules opposite each processes above the isthmus in one
row.
S. navigio/urn Gronbl.
Fig. 50.
Syn.: Raphidiastrurn navigio/urn (Gronbl.) Pal.-Mordv.
L ssp 50 flm, W ssp 52 flm, W csp 55 m, I 25 flm. Loc. 2.
This species has never been recorded in Russia but I found it previously in thesamples from Kamchatka (unpublished).
S. sa/tans Joshua var. rniedzyrczecense (Eichl.) Cedercreutz et Gronbl. Fig. 51.
L 3o-32f1m, W cpr 32- 36/lm, I 1o-12,5flm, T 12,5- 17,5f1m. Loc. 1.
This species is new to Russia.
Fig. 52.
S. subrnonticulosurn Roy et Biss.
L 35-37,5 flm, W ssp 35- 37,5 flm, I 12,5- 15 flm. Loc. 2.
The species was reported in Russia in the north-western territories.
The alga exhibits a wide range of variation in the apical margin's decoration.
Many specimens have spines or even teeth instead of the processes.
S. subscabrurn Nordst.
Syn.: Cosrnoastrurn subscabrurn (Nordst.) Pal.-Mordv.

Fig. 53.

Contribution to the desmid flora of the Primorsky Territory

50

~
~

52
Figs. 48- 53. - - 48 . S. longebrachiatum (Borge.) Gutw. var. jloridens Scott et Gronbl. 49.
S. manfeldtii Delp. 50. S. navigio/urn Gronbl. 51. S. sa/tans Joshua var. miedzyrczecense (Eichl.) Cedercreutz et Gronbl. 52. S. submonticulosum Roy et Biss. 53. S.
subscabrum Nordst. Scale bar fig. 48- 50 = 30,um, 51- 53 = 20,um.

77

A. A. Gontcharov

78

L 25,um, W 30,um, I IG-12,um. Loc. 3.
In the territory of Russia, this was reported only in the western region.
Desmidium Ag. ex Ralfs
D. baileyi (Ralfs) Nordst.
Fig. 54.
L 13,8- 16,3,um, W 18,8- 22,5,um. Loc. I.
This species was found only in the eastern territories of Russia-Kamchatka
and the Kurils.
D. graciliceps (Nordst.) Lagerh.
L 2G-21 ,urn, W 22- 24,um, I 19- 20,um. Loc. 2.
Previously, this species was reported only in Western Siberia.

Fig. 55.

Sphaerozosma Corda ex Ralfs
S. externa Noda et Skvortz.
Fig. 56.
L 12,5- 15,um, W 12,5- 13,8,um, I 2,5,um. Loc. 2.
This species is reported for the first time in Russia. It was noted in the places
adjacent to Primorsky Territory, i.e. Mongolia and China.
This alga combines some features of two genera, namely short apical
processes with distinct mucilage between them as found in Sphaerozosma,
and a closed linear sinus and remotely placed processes, found in Onychonema
Wallich.

54

55

56

Figs. 54- 56. - - 54. Desmidium baileyi (Ralfs) Nordst.
55 . D. graciliceps (Nordst.)
Lagerch. 56. Sphaerozosma externa Noda et Skvortz. Scale bar fig. 54- 56 = 20 ,urn.

Contribution to the desmid flora of the Primorsky Territory

79

Acknowledgments
I sincerely thank Dr. Y. Ono (Ibaraki University) for his guidance and Dr.
M. Watanabe (National Science Museum, Tsukuba), for his assistance in theliterature survey and invaluable comments and suggestion given throughout thisstudy. This work is partially supported by a special research grant from the
Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan.

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