Abstract
The new combination Staurosirella grunowii (Pantocsek) E. Morales, Buczkó & Ector comb. nov. is presented based on a detailed analysis of fossil material from Lutila, Slovakia using light and scanning electron microscopy. The species is widely known as Staurosira harrisonii var. amphitetras Grunow. Striae bearing well-developed vimines delimiting typically long areolae, thick virgae-bearing spines, developed apical pore fields composed of simple round poroids and open girdle bands with valvocopula-bearing fimbriae are some of the features that link this taxon to species currently ascribed to Staurosirella D.M. Williams & Round. The taxon is readily distinguished by its tetra-angular shape, which is not seen in any other species within this genus. An analysis of the morphology of this taxon together with its nomenclatural history is presented herein.
We gratefully acknowledge Delphine Collard (Public Research Centre – Gabriel Lippmann, Department of Environment and Agro-biotechnologies, Belvaux, Luxembourg) for technical assistance in sample treatment and preparation. We thank Saúl Blanco (University of Leon, Spain) for help with taxonomic/nomenclatural issues and the late Sam L. VanLandingham for helping with some literature references. This work is dedicated to Sam for his indefatigable work on diatoms.