Diatoms of North AmericaDiatoms of North America

Glossary

Like the rest of this website, the glossary is a work in progress. If we’ve missed a term, please contact us to let us know the term and references.

Axial plate

An axial plate is an internal feature of the diatom valve. The axial plate refers to the silica that occludes the inner openings of the areolae. It extends from the apical axis toward the valve margin. An axial plate is found in some species of Gomphoneis. The margin of the axial plate appears as a longitudinal line in light microscopy.

Axial Plate Copy
Image Credit: Sarah Spaulding
In SEM, an internal view of the central area of Gomphoneis herculeana showing the proximal raphe ends. The axial plate at the arrows covers the internal expression of the areolae.
Axialplate
Image Credit: Pat Kociolek
In LM, the axial plate forms the longitudinal lines in Gomphoneis. Here the longitudinal lines are shown in G. herculeana.
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