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Fragilaria vaucheriae has a central area that is unilaterally expanded, valve ends are not as tapered, and cells are joined in chain-like colonies (F. socia forms stellate colonies, attached to a substrate).

LM scalebar = 10 µm
Fragilaria socia LM3 Fragilaria socia LM6 Fragilaria socia LM1 Fragilaria socia LM7 Fragilaria socia LM4 Fragilaria socia LM5 Fragilaria socia LM2
Length Range
14.1-42.9 µm
Width Range
3.4-4.1 µm
Striae in 10 µm
16.4-18.5

Fragilaria vaucheriae

(Kütz.) Petersen 1938

Fragilaria vaucheriae LM2 Fragilaria vaucheriae LM4 Fragilaria vaucheriae LM5 Fragilaria vaucheriae LM3 Fragilaria vaucheriae LM1
Length Range
6–30 µm
Width Range
4-5 µm
Striae in 10 µm
14-16