SYSTEMATIC ACCOUNT 333 



Fragilariopsis sublinearis (Van Heurck) Heiden and Kolbe. 



Heiden and Kolbe, 1928, p. 554. 



Fragilaria sublinearis Van Heurck, 1909, p. 25, pi. 3, fig. 39. 



Cells united to form short chains, but often solitary. Valves linear or weakly linear- 

 lanceolate, tapering slightly towards the apices. Apices rounded. Valve-surface fur- 

 nished with delicate moniliform striae, puncta more distinct towards the apices. Con- 

 nective zone simple. Apical axis of cell 50-70/x ; transapical axis 5-7 ju. Type locality, 

 melted ice from the Antarctic Ocean. 



This diatom was frequently observed around the coasts of South Georgia, particularly 

 in East Cumberland Bay. 



Observed at Sts. MS 86, 88, 89, 90, 92, 95, 97, 98, 99, 100-103. 



Genus Asterionella Hassall ex Wm Smith. 



Wm Smith, 1856 

 [Hassall, 1850] 



The genus Asterionella is usually attributed to Hassall (Hassall, 1850, p. 9), who first 

 used the name Asterionella formosa as a nomen nudum in his indictment of the several 

 water companies which supplied the Metropolitan area during the nineteenth century. 

 Upon the following page the name was used again in the following manner: "The stelli- 

 form Diatoma, to which I have given the name Asterionella formosa". Reference was 

 made to a plate. Although the illustration provided clearly represents the organism 

 known to-day as Asterionella formosa, and shows that there might be a case for regarding 

 the above quotation as a description of the species observed by Hassall, no description 

 of the genus appeared which would warrant the authority being attributed to him. 

 I have attributed the genus to Wm Smith, who described it fully (Smith, 1856, p. 81) 

 and provided descriptions of three species. 



Asterionella japonica Cleve et Moller ex Gran. (PI. XI, fig. 3.) 

 Gran, 1905, p. 118, fig. 160. 



Cells united to form spiral star-shaped colonies, eight to twenty cells to a colony. 

 Cells having one end inflated into a triangular head, while the other end is produced into 

 a narrow rod-like outer portion. Valve possessing a narrow pseudo-raphe. Chromato- 

 phores : usually two, confined to the broad end of the cell. Apical axis of cell 50-90/x ; 

 inflated portion, about one-quarter of the total length. 



A neritic species, common in temperate seas. 



The name Asterionella japonica first appeared in lists which accompanied sets of 

 microscopic slides issued by Cleve and Moller in 1 877-1 882, but as such, must be con- 

 sidered as a nomen nudum, with no legal standing. I have attributed the authority for 

 the name to Gran, who first gave it legal publication. 



Observed at Sts. 1373 ; WS 700. 



