Dolichospermum planctonicum (Brunnthaler) Wacklin, Hoffmann & Komárek (2009)

Mcgregor, Glenn B., 2018, Freshwater Cyanobacteria of North-Eastern Australia: 3. Nostocales, Phytotaxa 359 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

Dolichospermum planctonicum (Brunnthaler) Wacklin, Hoffmann & Komárek (2009) Fig. 15 A–C.

Basionym: Anabaena planctonica Brunnthaler (1903: 292)

Filaments solitary, planktonic; trichomes straight or flexuous, constricted at the cross walls, not attenuated towards the ends; often associated with a broad, hyaline mucilage. Vegetative cells spherical or depressed globose, dark blue-green in colour, with aerotopes, 5.5–12.0 μm long × 8.0–15.0 μm broad; apical cells undifferentiated. Heterocytes solitary, spherical, 9.0–15.0 μm in diameter. Akinetes intercalary, solitary or up to 3 in series, oblong-ovate or oblong with conical ends, remote from heterocytes, 15.0–38.0 μm long × 9.0–20.0 μm broad.

Specimens examined:—Bjelke-Petersen Dam, Bowen R. at Bowen R. Weir, Burnett R. at Jones Weir, Burnett R. at Kirar Weir, Kinchant Dam, Mary R. at Mary R. Barrage, Pioneer R. at Mirani Weir.

Other records:— New South Wales: Prospect Res., Cannon et al. (1970), Bowen & Smalls (1980), River Murray at Swan Hill, Sullivan et al. (1988), Namoi R. near Walgett, Baker (1991), Ling & Tyler (2000); Victoria: Wonthaggi-Inverloch Res., Baker (1991); South Australia: Warren Res., Hindmash Valley Res., Baker (1991); Northern Territory: Magela Ck, Thomasson (1986).

Observations:—Cosmopolitan species, may be mistaken for D. smithii which differ by the shape of mature akinetes.