Amscottia gulungulana sp. nov. (desmidiaceae) from tropical Australia

Abstract

A new species of asymmetric desmid, Amscottia gulungulana, is described from tropical Australia. Generic characteristics are the marked polarity resulting from flexure of the processes of both semicells in the same direction, parallel to the long axis, and the different degrees of ornamentation of apices and processes of sister semicells. The semicells bear one tier only of distinctively long and slender processes, a feature clearly separating this species from the only other in the genus (A. mira). All cells observed show the characteristic asymmetry. The species has not been found elsewhere in Australia.