| Polymorphism in a population of the desmid (Zygnemaphyceae) Cosmarium abbreviatum Raciborski var. minus (West & West) Krieger & Gerloff is reported from material collected from 3 stations at the Lily Pond located in the Parque Estadual das Fontes do Ipiranga, São Paulo City, southern Brazil. From the examination of approximately 200 plants, 6 different morphological expressions were described and the following remarks made: 1) a detailed analysis of sample populations is absolutely necessary for the definition of species and infraspecific categories among desmids; 2) the morphological characteristics presently used for the delimitation of certain species, which are built up of individuals of very small size, seem to have no great... |
