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astrionella

astrionella

astrionella

Genus: Asterionella | Diatom

Pinto Lake species: Asterionella formosa

Order: Bacillariales (Pennate)

Family: Fragilariaceae

Looks Like: Star (aster) 

asterionllepsis

----------------------------------------------------Click on the illustration to enlarge

Description: Pennate diatom. Cells joined by valve faces into star-shaped or spiraling chains. A. formosa characterized by elongated valves with wide poles.

Cell Size: Length (apical axis) 30-150um

Distribution: Found in nutrient-rich temperate lakes; is a major contributor to spring blooms.

 

 

 

 

 
This Phytoplankton Identification page is affiliated with CeNCOOS and HABMAP, and is maintained by the Kudela Lab at the University of California Santa Cruz. Details about site history, funding, and sources of information and images can be found here.