Pleurosira
(Meneghini) San Leon 1848 Category: Centric
TYPE SPECIES: Melosira (Pleurosira) thermalis (Meneghini) San Leon
CLASS: Coscinodiscophyceae
ORDER: Triceratiales
FAMILY: Triceratiaceae
- Valves orbicular
- Ocelli 2-4, prominent
- Rimoportula single, positioned near center of valve
- Valves form zig-zag colonies
Pleurosira has very large orbicular valves with 2-4 prominent ocelli, the number depending on salinity. The ocelli secret mucopolysaccaride pads that join cells together in large, zig-zag colonies. A single rimoportula is positioned near the center of the valve face. Colonies form filaments that are visible in streams.
Pleurosira is widely distributed in naturally saline waters and polluted waters. In older literature it was reported as a Biddulphia or Cerataulus.
Cite This Page:
Spaulding, S., and Edlund, M. (2009). Pleurosira. In Diatoms of the United States. Retrieved June 17, 2013, from http://westerndiatoms.colorado.edu/taxa/genus/Pleurosira
Contributor: Sarah Spaulding | Mark Edlund - January 2009
Reviewer: Sam Rushforth
Citations
Aboal, M., Puig, M.A. and Soler, G. (1996). Diatom assemblages in some Mediterranean temporary streams in southeastern Spain. Archiv fur Hydrobiologie 136: 509-527.
Compère, P. (1982). Taxonomic revision of the diatom genus Pleurosira (Eupodiscaceae). Bacillaria 5: 165-190.
Johnson, L.M. and Rosowski, J.R. (2004). Valve and band morphology of some freshwater diatoms. V. Variations in the cingulum of Pleurosira laevis (Bacillariphyceae). Journal of Phycology 28: 247-259. 10.1111/j.0022-3646.1992.00247.x
Karthick, B. and Kociolek, J.P. (2011). Four new centric diatoms (Bacillariophyceae) from the Western Ghats, South India. Phytotaxa 22: 25-40.
Li, C.W. and Chang, Y.M. (1979). A euryhaline and polymorphic new diatom, Proteucylindrus taiwanensis gen. et sp. nov. British Phycological Journal 14:377-384.