Home / Diatoms / Pennate / Unicells / Biraphes / Symmetric / Amphipleura
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Name derivation:
Greek amphi meaning both sides of or double; pleura meaning a rib.
Classification:
Amphipleura Kützing, 1844; 9 of 51 species descriptions are currently accepted taxonomically (Guiry and Guiry 2014). Order Naviculales; Family Amphipleuraceae
Morphology:
Found as single cells lying in valve view or enclosed in a gelatinous tube. .Valves are linear with rounded edges. The valve face has punctae striations that are extremely fine and can be seen using electron microscopy. There is a single narrow rib that runs down the center of the cell that splits towards each end and forms needle like eyes. The raphe is short and runs parallel to each "eye". Each cell contains one plastid that is H-shaped and contains one central pyrenoid.
Similar genera:
Habitat:
Found in freshwater epipelic on sediments or attached to filamentous algae around plants.
References:
Guiry, M.D. and G.M. Guiry 2013. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 30 May 2014. Round, F. E., Crawford, R. M., Mann, D. G. 1990. The Diatoms. Cambridge University Press. New York, NY. Wehr, J., Sheath, R. 2003. Freshwater Algae of North America Ecology and Classification. Academic Press. San Diego, CA.