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.
Fascia
A fascia is a hyaline area of thickened silica extending from the central area of some pennate diatoms. The plural is fasciae. A transverse fascia is formed by secondary deposition of silica into depressions on the valve. Examples of genera having a transverse fascia include Luticola and Staurophora.
See also stauros for a similar structure.
Image Credit: Loren Bahls
Image Credit: Pat Kociolek
Image Credit: Loren Bahls
The fascia of Staurophora is the thickened, unornamented area near the central nodule. SEM images such as this one only show the surface features of the silica, so it is difficult to discern that the unornamented area is greater in thickness.
Image Credit: Pat Kociolek
Caloneis silicula has a fascia that often includes lunate markings.