Show UniqueIdentification

Id 94
Identification Type Algae
Name Phacotus
Distinguishing Features Circular
Moderate-birefringence
Pinwheel-extinction
Description Transparent colorless spheres show white and occasionally pastel birefringence colors. A dark ragged "X" across the sphere (also described as a pinwheel, baseball seams) rotates as the stage is rotated. Phacotus is a lacustrine green alga with a calcite lorica, and can be abundant in temperate hardwater lakes. Lorica with two slightly different appearances in cross-polarized light (one sometimes with a red ring near the perimeter) may be views of the outside and inside of loricae, as they commonly separate after death.
Tags carbonate
lorica
External Resources
Imposters
Images
Unique Identification: Phacotus
Site name: Tanners
Light type: Plane-Polarized Light
Magnification: 400x
Submitted by: Amy Myrbo
Notes: none
Image Tags: none
Unique Identification: Phacotus
Site name: Tanners
Light type: Cross-Polarized Light
Magnification: 400x
Submitted by: Amy Myrbo
Notes: none
Image Tags: none
Unique Identification: Phacotus
Site name: Twin
Light type: Plane-Polarized Light
Magnification: not specified
Submitted by: Amy Myrbo
Notes: small rhombs, Phacotus present
Image Tags: none
Unique Identification: Phacotus
Site name: Twin
Light type: Cross-Polarized Light
Magnification: not specified
Submitted by: not specified
Notes: small rhombs, Phacotus present
Image Tags: none

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