Pinnularia
Ehrenberg 1843 Category: Symmetrical biraphid
TYPE SPECIES: Pinnularia viridis (Nitzsch) Ehrenberg
Image Credit: Sarah Spaulding, Megan Otu
CLASS: Bacillariophyceae
ORDER: Naviculales
FAMILY: Pinnulariaceae
- Striae chambered, may form longitudinal lines
- External proximal raphe ends dilated, bent slightly
- Distal raphe ends deflected
Frustules of Pinnularia may be large, up to 300 µm in length. The striae are alveolate. Internally, the striae are positioned within chambers. The openings of the chambers are evident as longitudinal lines that cross the striae. The raphe system may be straight or complex. Externally, the proximal raphe ends are expanded and bent slightly to the same side. The distal raphe ends are deflected and may form a distinct, curving bend (a question mark shape). The central area may be expanded to one or both sides. Living cells contain two plastids.
Pinnularia is closely related to Caloneis and some authors suggest they should be considered as the same genus.
Pinnularia contains a large number of species and is often abundant in low conductance, slightly acid waters.
Cite This Page:
Spaulding, S., and Edlund, M. (2009). Pinnularia. In Diatoms of the United States. Retrieved May 25, 2013, from http://westerndiatoms.colorado.edu/taxa/genus/Pinnularia
Contributor: Sarah Spaulding | Mark Edlund - January 2009
Reviewer: Sam Rushforth
Citations
Krammer, K. (2000). The genus Pinnularia. The Diatoms of Europe. Diatoms of Inland Waters and Comparable Habitats 1: 1-703.
Luís, A.T., Novais, M.H., Van de Vijver, B., Almeida, S.F.P., Ferreira da Silva, E.A., Hoffmann, L. and Ector, L. (2012). Pinnularia aljustrelica sp. nov. (Bacillariophyceae), a new diatom species found in acidic waters in the Aljustrel mining area (Portugal) and further observations on the taxonomy and ecology of P. acidophila Hofmann et Krammer and P. acoricola Hustedt. Fottea 12: 27-40.
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.
Siver, P.A., Hamilton, P.B., Stachura-Suchoples, K. and Kociolek, J.P. (2005). Diatoms of North America. The Freshwater Flora of Cape Cod. Iconographia Diatomologica 14: 1-463.
Van de Vijver, B., Chattová, B., Metzeltin, D. and Lebouvier, M. (2012). The genus Pinnularia (Bacillariophyta) on Ile Amsterdam (TAAF, Southern Indian Ocean). Nova Hedwigia, Beiheft 141: 201–236.