Nitzschia closterium (Ehrenberg) W.Smith 1853

Current name: Cylindrotheca closterium (Ehrenberg) Reimann & J.C.Lewin
Kingston, Washington, USA; Carpenter Creek watershed, estuary, 1000x, DIC - 31 January 2009. Karl Bruun (skogenman@earthlink.net)

Publication Details
Nitzschia closterium (Ehrenberg) W.Smith 1853: 42, pl. 15: fig. 120

Published in: Smith, W. (1853). A synopsis of the British Diatomaceae; with remarks on their structure, function and distribution; and instructions for collecting and preserving specimens. The plates by Tuffen West. In two volumes. Vol. I. pp. [i]-xxxiii, 1-89, pls I-XXXI. London: John van Voorst, Paternoster Row.

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Type Species
The type species (holotype) of the genus Nitzschia is Nitzschia elongata Hassall.

Status of Name
This name is currently regarded as a synonym of Cylindrotheca closterium (Ehrenberg) Reimann & J.C.Lewin.

Source of Synonymy
Reimann, B.E.F. & Lewin, J.C. (1964). The diatom genus Cylindrotheca Rabenhorst. Journal of the Royal Microcopical Society, Series 3 83(3): 283-296.

Basionym
Ceratoneis closterium Ehrenberg

Type Information
Type locality: North Sea, near Cuxhaven, Germany (53 5200N, 008 42 00E); (INA 1996) Lectotype: [21 Sept. 1839]; water of the rising tide; BHUPM: Ehrenberg Collection; Taxonomical Preparation 540032-3 (Jahn & Kusber 2005: 297, fig. 5) Notes: Germany: Cuxhaven; Wismar (INA).

General Environment
This is a marine species.

Created: 11 April 2002 by M.D. Guiry.

Last updated: 12 October 2022

Verification of Data
Users are responsible for verifying the accuracy of information before use, as noted on the website Content page.

Nomenclatural note
Margaret Harper (pers. comm. 12 April 2016) writes: "For Nitzschia closterium (a raphid diatom) AlgaeBase gives the currently accepted name as Ceratoneis closterium Ehrenberg which is also its Basionym. Ceratoneis as a generic name has been used far more often over the last 100 years in many floras for Ceratoneis arcus an araphid diatom currently accepted as Hannaea arcus. However Jahn & Kusber 2005 resurrected the name Ceratoneis closterium based on type material (Diatom Research 20 295-304) for this raphid diatom. Later Medlin & Mann 2007 (Taxon 56, 953-955) proposed conserving the name Cylindrotheca closterium rather than adopting the confusing name Ceratoneis closterium. I can understand why you have currently accepted Ceratoneis closterium, but think it needs an explanatory note and that the alternative synonym Cylindrotheca closterium could be usefully included in the entry for Nitzschia closterium." - (12 April 2016) - M.D. Guiry

Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=31005

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 12 October 2022. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 08 June 2025