Tabellaria
Ehrenberg ex Kützing 1844 Category: Araphid
TYPE SPECIES: Tabellaria fenestrata (Lyngbye) Kützing
Image Credit: Sarah Spaulding
CLASS: Fragilariophyceae
ORDER: Tabellariales
FAMILY: Tabellareaceae
- Valve elongate, swollen in the middle, capitate
- Rimoportula present at midvalve
- Frustules with numerous copulae
- Cells form zig-zag colonies
Tabellaria valves are elongate with capitate ends. The valves are generally wider at the center than at the ends. A rimoportula is present in the center of the valve face. Septae are present on the numerous copulae (girdle bands). Pseudoseptae may also be present. Cells form zig-zag colonies joined by mucilage pads secreted from apical porefields.
Tabellaria is considered a close relative of Oxyneis. The two genera share the presence of septae, which may be detached in some preparations. Species within the genus are found in a range of water types, from acidic to alkaline waters.
Cite This Page:
Spaulding, S., and Edlund, M. (2009). Tabellaria. In Diatoms of the United States. Retrieved May 23, 2013, from http://westerndiatoms.colorado.edu/taxa/genus/Tabellaria
Contributor: Sarah Spaulding | Mark Edlund - January 2009
Citations
Flower, R.J. and Battarbee, R.W. (1985). The morphology and biostratigraphy of Tabellaria quadriseptata (Bacillariophyceae) in acid waters and lake sediments in Galloway, Southwest Scotland. British Phycological Journal 20: 69-79.
Koppen, J.D. (1975). A morphological and taxonomic consideration of Tabellaria (Bacillariophyceae) from the northcentral United States. Journal of Phycology 11: 236-244.
Koppen, J.D. (1978). Distribution and aspects of the ecology of the genus Tabellaria Ehr. (Bacillariophyceae) in the northcentral United States. American Midland Naturalist 99:236-244.