Phylum: Charophyta Family: Desmidiaceae
Cosmarium trachypleurum var. minus Raciborski
This variety has rarely been recorded and is only known with certainty from a few locations in Europe. Found in the tychoplankton of pools and loch-margins, its status in the Outer Hebrides in unknown. It is thought to have little affinity with the nominate species and a new work in preparation (Kouwets) will rename this taxon as a separate species
References:
Kouwets, F.A.C. (in manuscript) European Flora of the Desmid Genus Cosmarium
West, W. & West, G.S. (1908) A Monograph of the British Desmidiaceae, Volume 3
Coesel, P.F.M. (1979) Desmids of the broads area of N.W. Overijssel (The Netherlands) II