Johansen and Sray 1998 Category: Symmetrical biraphid
TYPE SPECIES: Microcostatus krasskei (Hustedt) Johansen and Sray
Frustules of Microcostatus are small in size. The axial area includes lyre-shaped depressions on both sides of the prominent sternum. The depressions contain small costae (microcostae) in a depression near the axial area. Striae not visible with the light microscope. SEM reveals striae are present and comprised of single rows of areolae. In living cells two plastids are present, pressed to the cingulum. The genus differs from Fallacia by the absense of a conopeum.
The genus includes species that belong to the former section Naviculae minusculae. This group The genus contains Microcostatus krasskei (Hustedt) Johansen and Sray, M. naumanii (Hustedt) Lange-Bertalot and M. maceria (Schim.) Lange-Bertalot, Kusber and Metzeltin, among others. Microcostatus is typically found in aerophilous habitats, such as wet walls or soils.
Cite This Page:
Spaulding, S., and Edlund, M. (2008). Microcostatus. In Diatoms of the United States. Retrieved May 25, 2016, from http://westerndiatoms.colorado.edu/taxa/genus/Microcostatus