Freshwater Algae, Chlorophyta, Desmids. With ecological comments on their habitats, by Hannah Croasdale & Elizabeth A.Flint. Volume 1. 1986. 5 colour-plates. 27 pls. of line-drawings. 2 coloured endpaper maps. XII,132 p. gr8vo. Cloth.

Special offer copies at reduced price. -Contents:This volume is the first of a series of three dealing with thedesmids of New Zealand and covers the Saccoderm desmids Cylindrocystis, Mesotaenium, Netrium, Roya, Spirotaenia) and some of the Placoderm desmids Closterium, Euastrum, Genicularia, Gnatozygon, Micrasterias, Penium, Pleurotaenium, Tetmemorus, Triploceras).The second volume will contain descriptions of Actinotaenium,Cosmarium,Cosmocladium,Spinocosmarium and Xanthidium.The third volume will include what is known of Staurastrum(very abundant in New Zealand lakes), Staurodesmus, Arthrodesmus and the filamentous genera.When possible, every desmid that has been reported from New Zealand is described and illustrated by line drawings; keys have been devised for identifying the taxa.Pertinent information is given about the places (stations) where samples came from and about the biology of the species.So little is known about the ecology of New Zealand desmids that most of the notes about habitats come from the literature.