Pleurosigma amarum S.R.Stidolph

Type slide

Westshore, Napier, New Zealand; in salt marsh. Stidolph Collection BW-201/11.

Institution holding the type material

Stidolph Collection, held by NIWA, Kyle St, Riccarton, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Publication

Observations and remarks on the morphology and taxonomy of the diatom genera Gyrosigma hassall and Pleurosigma w. smith iii. Gyrosigma sterrenburgii sp. nov., and Pleurosigma amara sp. nov. Link

Known distribution

New Zealand

Kapiti Island: Okupe Lagoon, Lat. 40°50'S, Long. 174°56'E; Napier: Westshore, Lat. 39°28'S, Long. 176°52'E; Purimu Creek, Lat. 39°30'S, Long. 176°52'E; Miranda: Lat. 37°10'S, Long. 175°19'E.

Etymology

Meaning "brackish of habitat".

Description

Valve sigmoid, valve face flat up to about a quarter of distance from apex then vaulted towards narrowly rounded apices. Length of valve 253.6-360.0 µm, width 28.0-31.7 µm. Axial area narrow, central area small, conspicuous and orbicular; not rotated. Axial rib of single curvature, approximately central but displaced to convex valve margin near apices. Raphe angle +5/+7°. Helictoglossa conspicuous, terminal areas rather obscure, displaced slightly to concave side of axial rib. Striae transapical and oblique, crossing at 61-64°. Transapical and oblique striae 20-21 in 10 µm. Colour in standardised darkfield: peacock blue.

Notes

Funding from TFBIS (Terrestrial and Freshwater Biodiversity Information System), administered by the New Zealand Department of Conservation, is gratefully acknowledged.

Reference

Stidolph SR 1992. Observations and remarks on the morphology and taxonomy of the diatom genera Gyrosigma Hassall and Pleurosigma W. Smith III. Gyrosigma sterrenburgii sp. nov., and Pleurosigma amara sp. nov. Diatom Research 7: 345-366.