The Diatom Genus Tabellaria

Abstract

A morphological study of natural populations of Tabellaria in fresh water suggested that there were two fundamentally different types of growth (and therefore frustule structure) in the genus, and this has been confirmed by means of unialgal clone cultures. The existence of these different types of growth forms the basis for a revision of the genus. A diagnosis of T. quadriseptata nov. spec, is given, the specific limits of T. fenestrata and T. flocculosa are redefined, and the occurrence of T. binalis in Britain is reported for the first time.