Diatomella
Greville 1855 Category: Symmetrical biraphid
TYPE SPECIES: Diatomella balfouriana Greville
CLASS: Bacillariophyceae
ORDER: Naviculales
FAMILY: Pinnulariaceae
- Valves with distinct septa
- Striae short
- Proximal raphe ends expanded
The frustules of Diatomella are symmetrical to the apical and transapical axes. The valve outline is linear-elliptical. An internal septum is present, with three openings forming a distinctive internal thickening of silica. The striae are short, often not extending far beyond the valve margin. The proximal raphe ends are expanded.
Diatomella is the only naviculoid diatom that possesses a septum (rather than a pseudoseptum). A single species, D. balfouriana, grows in high elevation alpine regions of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. The taxon prefers aerophilic habitats low in nutrients.
Cite This Page:
Spaulding, S., and Edlund, M. (2009). Diatomella. In Diatoms of the United States. Retrieved May 22, 2013, from http://westerndiatoms.colorado.edu/taxa/genus/Diatomella
Contributor: Sarah Spaulding | Mark Edlund - January 2009
Reviewer: Sam Rushforth
Citations
Le Cohu, R. (1983). Observations sur deux especes de diatomees du genera Diatomella: Diatomella hustedtii Manguin et Diatomella ouenkoana Maillard. Cryptogamie Algologie 4: 63-71.
Patrick, R.M. and Reimer, C.W. (1966). The Diatoms of the United States exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii, V. 1. Monographs of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 13.
Van de Vijver, B., Ector, L. and Cox, E.J. . (2012). Ultrastructure of Diatomella balfouriana with a discussion of septum-like structures in diatom genera. Diatom Research 27: 213-221. 10.1080/0269249X.2012.720612