Denticula Kutzing
Description
Frustules biraphid,
linear to linear-lanceolate with acute to rounded apices, symmetrical to apical
and transapical axes, canal raphe with distinct fibulae. Canal raphe opens internally
by portules formed by expansion of fibulae at their bases. Raphe systems said
to be diagonally-oriented on valves of their same frustule. Septa (or "septum-like
structures", Round et at. 1990, p. 622) occur on the valvocopulae.
This genus has
classically been included with Epithemia and Rhopalodia in the
Epitemiaceae (e.g. Hustedt 1930; Patrick and Reimer 1975; Krammer and Lange-Bertalot
1988). Recently, Denticula has been suggested to be more closely related
to Nitzschia and its allies by virtue of the "nitzschoid symmetry"
of its raphe system (Round et al. 1990).
Light Microscope
Image(s)
Each image is accompanied by the genus and species, California Academy of Sciences slide number (ie. CAS 612010), location of the specimen on the slide, and dimension in microns.