Newtown Square. East Park Reservoir. Rare.
Pl. [27], Fig. 10.
Navicula BORY (1826)
(dim. of navis, a boat)
Valve linear to elliptical; ends acute, rounded, rostrate, capitate or truncate; axial area usually distinct; central area distinct, rounded or rarely extended into a transverse fascia; striæ transverse or radiate, punctate; central area not dilated into a transverse stauros nor into horns.
The endochrome in the greater number of species consists of two chromatophores extending along the zone and sometimes partly over the valves. Sometimes, however, as in N. hennedyi, N. lyra and N. humerosa, the bands are on the valves. Certain species have four bands, others eight, and in one the endochrome is granular. (Mereschkowsky, l. c., p. 9 et seq.) Pyrenoids are usually absent. On account of the diversity of the chromatophores, Mereschkowsky considers the genus not homogeneous. The difficulty of arranging groups according to the cell contents, however, is so great that, for the present, the species must be described by the usual characteristics of the valves and divided as follows, according to Cleve, to the extent of employing the classification of all Naviculoid forms as applicable, especially to the species of Navicula. Van Heurck's analysis includes Pinnularia, Trachyneis, Diploneis, Caloneis, Neidium and Anomœoneis, which are here separated, while N. lyra and N. hennedyi are placed in different groups, although they are closely related. In other respects Cleve's divisions correspond, to some extent, to those of Van Heurck.
The genus Navicula at one time included the following: Dictyoneis, Pleurosigma, Gyrosigma, Caloneis, Neidium, Diploneis, Frustulia, Trachyneis, Anomœoneis, Pinnularia and Stauroneis, and few forms with a raphe escaped. For this reason the diagnosis of the present genus is somewhat limited. Pleurosigma and Gyrosigma differ from Navicula in their outline, Dictyoneis in the double stratification, Caloneis in the marginal lines, Neidium in the median and terminal fissures, Diploneis in the horns, Frustulia in the terminal nodules, Trachyneis in the stratification of the valve, Anomœoneis in the longitudinal arrangement of the puncta, Pinnularia in the smooth costæ and Stauroneis in the stauros.
As the object of the present work is to aid the student of local forms in the identification of species by the briefest methods, the further discussion of the reasons for classification will be left for his gratification in referring to the authorities on the subject.
Punctatæ Cleve
Valve elliptical to lanceolate; central nodule not stauroid or continued into lyriform spaces; striæ distinctly or coarsely punctate, in radiate rows.