''Cosmarium'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of fresh water organisms belonging to the
Charophyta
Charophyta () is a group of freshwater green algae, called charophytes (), sometimes treated as a division, yet also as a superdivision or an unranked clade. The terrestrial plants, the Embryophyta emerged within Charophyta, possibly from terre ...
, a division of
green algae
The green algae (singular: green alga) are a group consisting of the Prasinodermophyta and its unnamed sister which contains the Chlorophyta and Charophyta/Streptophyta. The land plants (Embryophytes) have emerged deep in the Charophyte alga as ...
from which the land plants (
Embryophyta
The Embryophyta (), or land plants, are the most familiar group of green plants that comprise vegetation on Earth. Embryophytes () have a common ancestor with green algae, having emerged within the Phragmoplastophyta clade of green algae as siste ...
) emerged.
Description
In this complex genus the cells are very variable. All are constricted in the middle leading to its bi-lobed appearance.
[Guiry, M.D., John, D.M., Rindi, F. and McCarthy, Y.K.2007. ''New Survey of Clare Island Volume 6: The Freshwater and Terrestrial Algae.'' Royal Irish Academy. ]
File:Cosmarium sp..JPG
File:Cosmarium EPA.jpg
References
External links
*
Desmidiaceae
Charophyta genera
{{green algae-stub