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A stria is a row of areolae, alveoli, or is a single alveolus when the alveolus extends from the apical axis to the margin. The plural is striae. In centric diatoms, striae are usually oriented along radii of a valve. In pennate diatoms, striae are usually oriented on the valve more or less transapically. In Latin, stria means groove or stripe.
Features of the striae are important in diatom taxonomy and phylogeny, such as:
- density: number of striae that occur in 10 µm;
- orientation: radiate, parallel, or convergent;
- chambering: whether an alveolus or not;
- seriation: whether uni-, bi-, or multiseriate.