Diatoms of North AmericaDiatoms of North America
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Guide to Mayamaea

Lange-Bertalot 1997

Mayamaea Iconic
  1. Cells small
  2. Axial area thickened
  3. Raphe straight

Frustules of Mayamaea are small. The axial area is thickened and contains a straight raphe. Sometimes the axial area is all that remains from an acid preparation. The striae are uniseriate.

Mayamaea includes the former Navicula atomus and its affiliates. Mayamaea species are found in ephemeral habitats as well as waters high in nutrient waste. Mayamaea species may reach high abundance in some polluted habitats.