Tabellaria flocculosa (Roth) Kützing, 1844
Most likely ID: n.a.
Synonym: n. a.
Sampling location: Ibmer Moor (Austria), Simmelried
Phylogenetic tree: Tabellaria flocculosa
Diagnosis:
- cells rectangular in girdle view
- size of single cells about 20 X 30 µm
- cells are connected by corners to zig-zag chains
- septa penetrating up to mid-region
- in valve view elongated with an inflation in the center
- chloroplasts golden brown, lying between the septa
I have found Tabellaria flocculosa so far only in the Ibmer Moor in Austria and in the Simmelried. In the Simmelried this diatom could only be found until 1999, because the moor character of the area decreased more and more. Light microscopically mainly the rectangular or square girdle view is presented. The valve view would only be visible if the tabular-shaped diatom were perpendicular on one narrow side, which is virtually never the case when viewed under the coverslip. The cells are connected to each other via the corners to form zig-zag chains, being held together with a gelatinous mass, which is also easily seen by light microscopy (s. fig. 1).
Fig. 1: Tabellaria flocculosa. L = 18 -22 µm. Four cells from a zig-zag shaped chain. The cells are connected at the corners via a gelatinous mass (GM). The cell volume is separated by septa (Se) reaching up to the mid-region. Beween the septa the golden-brown chloroplasts are arranged. Obj. 100 X.