Living diatoms indentification by chloroplast form 1 chloroplast H-shaped With one lobe Examples: Sellaphora Luticola Caloneis Examples: Encyonema Cymbella With several lobes In entire cell Examples: Epithemia Rhopalodia Examples: Achnanthidium Surirella
Living diatoms indentification by chloroplast form 2 chloroplasts 2 ’sausages’ in valves view 2 plates in valve view Examples: Nitzschia Achnanthes Examples: Navicula Craticula Pinnularia Gyrosigma Stauroneis
Living diatoms indentification by chloroplast form 4 or more chloroplasts Neidium Examples: Meridion Centric diatoms