ˈdezmə̇d noun
( -s )
Etymology: New Latin Desmidium, Desmidiaceae & Desmidiales
: any of numerous unicellular or colonial green algae that belong to the order Zygnematales especially to the family Desmidiaceae or to this together with the Mesotaeniaceae, and that lack asexual means of spore formation, have platelike green chromatophores, and differ from diatoms mainly in lacking a siliceous skeleton
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