Guide to Craspedostauros

SPECIES OF CRASPEDOSTAUROS ARE NOT KNOWN TO OCCUR IN NORTH AMERICA

Valves of Craspedostauros are linear, with a narrow central stauros, or fascia. In girdle view, frustules are constricted around the central stauros. Cells often lie in girdle view, because of the deep girdle. Numerous copulae, or girdle bands, are present. Areolae are cribrate. Live cells have two lobed chloroplasts.

Species within Craspedostauros were previously included in Stauroneis. While Craspedostauros possesses a fascia, the genus is primarily marine and possesses areolae composed of transverse slits. In Staurophora, the fascia does not extend to the margin of the valve face in and that genus possesses finely punctate areolae.