Germainiella enigmatica (Germain) Lange-Bertalot

Kociolek, J. P., You, Q. M., Lou, F., P. Yu, Lowe, R. L. & Wang, Q. X., 2019, First Report and New Freshwater Species of Germainiella (Bacillariophyta) from the Maolan Nature Reserve, Guizhou Province, China, Phytotaxa 393 (1), pp. 35-46 : 36-37

Germainiella enigmatica (Germain) Lange-Bertalot

Figures 1 –7, 14–17

Description: Valves small, lanceolate, with protracted nearly capitate apices. Length 12–13 μm, breadth 3.0–3.5 μm. Axial area distinct, containing a filiform raphe with dilated external proximal raphe ends and distal raphe ends that are curved in the same direction. Striae not visible as seen with light microscopy.

With SEM (Figs 14–17), the valve is covering entirely with a conopeum. The conopeum is perforated by the raphe system only. The raphe is filiform, with external proximal ends straight and distal ends broadly curved towards the same side. Along the length of the raphe slit there are siliceous struts running perpendicular to the raphe (Fig. 15). A fractured valve (Figs 16, 17) shows beneath the conopeum there is the valve, and there are striae visible on the internal portion of the valve. These striae number 45–55 / 10 μm.

Distribution: Observed in Sample 081 from our samples, where it was rare. Remarks: First described by Germain (1980) as Navicula enigmatica , this species has been reported from Europe

( Germain 1980, Werum & Lange-Bertalot 2004), Tahiti (Ricard & Coste 1990) and South America ( Metzeltin et al.

2005).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Germainiella spp. Light microscopy. Figs 1–7. Germainiella engimatica. Valve views. Figs 8–10. Germainiella maolaniana, sp. nov. Valve views. All specimens from the holotype slide. Figs 11–13. Germainiella guizhouiana, sp. nov. Valve views. All specimens from the holotype slide. Scale bars = 10 μm.