Bacillaria
Gmelin 1788 Category: Nitzschioid
TYPE SPECIES: Bacillaria paradoxa Gmelin
CLASS: Bacillariophyceae
ORDER: Bacillariales
FAMILY: Bacillariaceae
- Raphe positioned in the central apical axis
- Striae relatively coarse
- Cells grow in colonies, linked by the keel that surrounds the raphe
Bacillaria is one of the genera in which the raphe is located within a raised keel. In contrast to the excentrically positioned raphe and keel of Nitzschia, the raphe of Bacillaria is centrally positioned, along the apical axis. The striae are distinct and relatively coarse. Living cells form colonies, linked by the keel. Living cells within colonies are joined by silica hooks near the keel, and these silica hooks allow the cells to slide past one another in coordinated movements.
Bacillaria is found in marine, brackish, and freshwaters with high conductivity and often nutrient rich conditions.
Cite This Page:
Spaulding, S., and Edlund, M. (2008). Bacillaria. In Diatoms of the United States. Retrieved June 19, 2013, from http://westerndiatoms.colorado.edu/taxa/genus/Bacillaria
Contributor: Sarah Spaulding | Mark Edlund - July 2008
Citations
Hustedt, F. (1930). Die Kieselalgen Deutschlands, Osterreichs und der Schweiz mit Berucksichtigung der ubrigen Lander Europas sowie der angrenzenden Meersgebiete. In: Dr. L. Rabenhorst's Kryptogamen-Flora von Deutschland, Osterreich und der Schweiz. Leipzig, Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft Geest und Portig K.-G. Vol. 7, Part 3, pp. 557-816.
Jahn, R. and Schmid, A. (2007). Revision of the brackish-freshwater diatom genus Bacillaria Gmelin (Bacillariophyta) with the description of a new variety and two new species. European Journal of Phycology 42(3): 295-312. 10.1080/09670260701428864
Ussing, A.P., R. Gordon, L. Ector, K. Buczko, A.G. Desnitskiy and S.L. Van Landingham. (2005). The colonial diatom Bacillaria paradoxa: chaotic gliding motility, Lindenmeyer Model of colonial morphogenesis, and bibliography, with translation by O.F. Muller (1783). Diatom Monographs 5: 139 pp.