Bad-smelling Alkanet vs

Alkanna maleolens compared with Chrysococcus granulatus

Key Differences

• Bad-smelling Alkanet is Critically Endangered while is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Bad-smelling Alkanet
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Chromista (Chromista)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Ochrophyta (Ochrophyta)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Chrysophyceae (Chrysophyceae)
Order	Boraginales (Boraginales)	Chromulinales (Chromulinales)
Family	Boraginaceae	Dinobryaceae
Genus	Alkanna	Chrysococcus
Species	Alkanna maleolens	Chrysococcus granulatus

Conservation Status

Bad-smelling Alkanet

CR — Critically Endangered

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Bad-smelling Alkanet
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Bad-smelling Alkanet

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Norway and Sweden.

Bad-smelling Alkanet

The Bad-smelling Alkanet (Alkanna maleolens) is a species in the genus Alkanna. It is currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Chrysococcus granulatus is a unicellular freshwater chrysophyte microalga in the genus Chrysococcus, class Chrysophyceae. The species epithet granulatus — granular or granulated — describes a textured surface on the lorica of this species, a feature visible under electron microscopy that contrasts with the smooth surfaces of some congeners. In the genus Chrysococcus, the lorica is a secreted outer covering enclosing the cell, and its surface texture, shape, and any projections or pores form the primary morphological characters distinguishing species from one another. C. granulatus has been documented from Norwegian and Swedish freshwater bodies, consistent with the strong Scandinavian research tradition in chrysophyte taxonomy. Scandinavian oligotrophic and mesotrophic lakes are important reservoirs of chrysophyte diversity, harboring numerous species of Chrysococcus, Chromulina, Ochromonas, and related genera. Records from Brazil and Denmark extend the known distribution of C. granulatus, suggesting cosmopolitan or at least widespread dispersal capability through passive transport mechanisms such as wind, waterfowl, and hydrological connectivity. The species is a golden-brown phytoplankton organism with chlorophylls a and c and fucoxanthin carotenoids, enabling photosynthesis in the limnetic zone. Like other Chrysococcus species, C. granulatus may supplement photosynthesis with phagotrophic uptake of bacteria. It has not been assessed under IUCN criteria and carries a conservation status of Not Evaluated. The species contributes to understanding freshwater chrysophyte taxonomy and biodiversity in Scandinavian aquatic ecosystems.