GENERA starting with "n"


Navicula 76

  1. Striae composed of lineate areolae
  2. Sternum central, thickened


Navicymbula 1

  1. Asymmetry to apical axis slight
  2. Distal raphe ends dorsally deflected
  3. Striae lineate

Asymmetrical biraphid - The valve outline is very slightly asymmetric to the apical axis, valves are nearly naviculoid in appearance. The raphe is positioned in a nearly central position on valve. The distal raphe ends are deflected dorsally. Striae are lineate. Valves lack apical pore fields. The genus is more closely allied with Navicula than Cymbella. Navicymbula pusilla, one of the brackish to saline taxa, is found in endorheic lakes of...


  1. Shallow caves present
  2. Central valve margin constricted
  3. Proximal raphe ends straight

Symmetrical biraphid - Neidiomorpha is a recently erected genus closely related to Neidium. In Neidiomorpha, the marginal canals are greatly reduced and are termed “shallow caves”. Valves are linear, with central margins constricted. The apices are rostrate. The proximal raphe ends are simple pores, slightly deflected to the primary side. Two plastids are present. While species in the genus Neidium possess distinct canals at the valve...

Neidiopsis 2

  1. Longitudinal lines present
  2. Proximal raphe ends straight or unilaterally deflected
  3. Distal raphe ends simply curved
  4. Striae may be uniseriate or biseriate


Neidium 3

  1. Longitudinal lines evident
  2. Proximal raphe ends bilaterally deflected, or straight
  3. Striae uniseriate
  4. Apical flap often present


Nitzschia 36

  1. Raphe eccentric, within a keel
  2. Keel supported by internal fibulae
  3. Raphe of each valve on opposite sides of the frustule

Nitzschioid - The nitzschioid raphe is positioned eccentrically within a keel which is supported by fibulae. Valves lack a sternum. Within the genus, species have a large range in size, from very small to very large. Nitzschia is a very common genus with a large number of species that are often difficult to identify. Some Nitzschia species reach great abundance in waters high in organic pollution.

Nupela 15

  1. Valves small
  2. Areolae with external openings larger than internal openings
  3. Central area asymmetric

Symmetrical biraphid - Species of Nupela are small in size, generally less than 20 µm. Although the genus was first described as being isovalvar, many recently described species have been found to be heterovalvar in regard to raphe development. Heterovalvar species have one valve with a fully developed raphe and the other valve with a reduced, or absent raphe. The valves of Nupela are slightly asymmetric to the apical axis and the central...