JOINT HAECKEL and EHRENBERG PROJECT: Reexamination of the Haeckel and Ehrenberg Microfossil Collections
as a Historical and Scientific Legacy, edited by Y. Tanimura and Y. Aita, pp. 13–21. National Museum of Nature andScience Monographs, No. 40, Tokyo 2009

Examination of Type Material and Typification of Seven Diatoms Describedby C. G. Ehrenberg
Akihiro Tuji
Department of Botany, National Museum of Nature and Science, 4–1–1, Amakubo, Tsukuba 305–0005, Japan(e-mail: tuji@kahaku.go.jp)

Abstract Seven diatoms (Cocconeis lineata, Cocconeis placentula, Gallionella sculpta, Gomphonema subtile, Gomphonema vibrio, Navicula rhomboides, Stephanodiscus sinensis) described by
Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg were examined using the materials in the Ehrenberg Collection in
BHUPM (Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin). Lectotypes and epitypes are designated for these taxa.
Key words: Ehrenberg, diatoms, Cocconeis lineata, Cocconeis placentula, epitype, Gallionella
sclpta, Gomphonema subtile, Gomphonema vibrio, lectotype, Navicula rhomboids, Stephanodiscus
sinensis.

Introduction
Christian G. Ehrenberg was an early and important diatomist. Recent diatomists use many ofthe diatom names described by him. To understand Japanese diatom endemism, I examined historical diatom collections in European herbariums. In this paper, I discuss the seven diatom taxa
described by Ehrenberg.
Materials and Methods
I examined material from Ehrenberg’s Collection (EC) in the BHUPM (Museum fürNaturkunde in Berlin; Lazarus and Jahn, 1998), which consisted of the following:
1. Ehrenberg’s original raw material (EC sample),
2. Ehrenberg’s original mica preparations (EC mica), and3. Ehrenberg’s original drawings (EC drawing).
I also referred to the geographic index by Clara Ehrenberg (ECGI) housed in the BHUPM,
when searching the Ehrenberg collection. Several subsamples from Ehrenberg’s original material
were incinerated or oxidized with H2O2 and mounted onto glass slides and embedded in Pleurax
or Zrax.

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A. TujiResults and Discussion
1.

Stephanodiscus sinensis Ehrenb. Mikrogeol. 144. pl. 34/7. f. 7. 1854.

(Fig. 1, a–e)Type locality: Blumencultur-Erde von Canton, China.
Lectotype (here designated): An illustration in EC drawing number 1996 (Fig. 1, a).
Epitype (here designated): An individual in EC Mica 070203-4g (Fig. 1. e).
Iso-epitype: EC sample 446a and 446b (292. Gelbliche Blumen-Erde von Canton A) (Fig. 1, d)
The drawing of Stephanodiscus sinensis Ehrenb. is found in EC drawing 1996 (Fig. 1, a). I
designate this drawing as the lectotype for this taxon. The mica number for this taxon is written
in this drawing, and also agrees with the description in ECGI. This taxonomic name is written on
the label of EC mica 070203-4g (Fig. 1, c), and a suitable individual is found on this mica. I designate this individual as the epitype for the support of the lectotype.
Two EC samples for this taxon were found in the Ehrenberg Collection in the BHUPM (446aand 446b). These materials include so many taxa that I have not found suitable individuals forthis taxon. Further study is needed to taxonomically identify this taxon.

Figs 1. a–e. Stephanodiscus sinensis Ehrenb. a. EC drawing 1996, b. Ehrenberg (1854). Mikrogeol. pl. 34/7. f. 7.,
c. the label of in EC Mica 070203-4g. d. the label of EC sample 446a. e. An individual in EC Mica 0702034g, epitype, bar10 m m.

Seven Diatoms by C. G. Ehrenberg

2.

15

Gallionella sculpta Ehrenb. Ber. K. Akad. Wiss. Berlin 1845: 61, 77. 1845; Mikrogeol. pl.
33/12. f. 20. 1854.
(Fig. 2, a–c)

Type locality: Oregon, fossil.
Lectotype (here designated): An illustration in EC drawing 2288 (Fig. 2, a).
Epitype (here designated): An individual in EC mica 240909-1o (Fig. 2, c).
Iso-epitype: EC sample 1418.
The drawing of Gallionella sculpta Ehrenb. is found in EC drawing 2288 (Fig. 2, a). I designate this drawing as the lectotype for this taxon. The mica number is described in ECGI; this taxonomic name is written on the label of EC mica 240909-1o, and a suitable individual is found on
this EC mica. I designate this individual as the epitype supporting the lectotype.
3.

Navicula rhomboides Ehrenb. Abh. Köningl. Akad. Wiss. Berlin 1841: 314, 419. f. 3-1-15.
1843.
(Fig. 2, d–f: EC Mica 200312-4r)
The type material of this taxon was examined by Lange-Bertalot and Jahn (2000). I present

Fig. 2. a–c, Gallionella sclpta Ehrenb. a. An illustration in EC drawing 2288 (lectotype). b, c. individuals foundin EC Mica 240909-1o, bar10 m m. c. epitype.
Fig. 2. d–f, Navicula rhomboides Ehrenb. Individuals found on EC Mica 200312-4r, bar10 m m.

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A. Tujiadditional images for this taxon. This taxon is very close to Navicula rhynchocephala Kütz., andthe two may be synonymous.
4.

Gomphonema subtile Ehrenb. Ber. K. Akad. Wiss. Berlin 1841: 144. 1841; Mikrogeol. pl.
17/2. f. 43. 1854.
(Fig. 3, a–c)

Type locality: New York. Bridgewater, Mass.
Lectotype (here designated): An illustration in EC drawing 2253 (Fig. 3, a).
Epitype (here designated): An individual in EC mica 260301-1v (Fig. 3, b).
The drawing of Gomphonema subtile Ehrenb. is found in EC drawing 2253 (Fig. 3, a). I designate this drawing as the lectotype for this taxon. The mica number is described in ECGI, andthis taxonomic name is written on the label of EC mica 260301-1v. The individual on this micaagrees completely with the drawing, and I designate this individual as the epitype supporting thelectotype.
5.

Gomphonema vibrio Ehrenb. Abh. Köningl. Akad. Wiss. Berlin 1841: 416. f. 2-1-40. 1843.

Type: Mahé, Seychelles, Van Heurck, Types Synopsis No. 213 (BORD) (typ. cons.). (Fig. 3, c, d)
I found a suitable EC drawing (Fig. 3, c) and individual on EC mica (Fig. 3, d). However, thetype of this taxon has been conserved in the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature(ICBN: McNeill et al., 2007) because it falls outside the range of variation in this taxon as currently understood (Jahn and Lange-Bertalot, 1995). Because of the conservation of type, thesematerials are not type material.
6.

Cocconeis placentula Ehrenb. Infus. vollk. org. 194. 1838; Mikrogeol. pl. 9-I. f. 46. 1854.
(Fig. 3, e, f)
Type locality: Bei Berlin.
Lectotype (here designated): An illustration in Mikrogeologie (Ehrenberg 1854) (Pl. 9-I, Fig.
46a) (Fig. 3, g).
Cocconeis placentula Ehrenb. was described by Ehrenberg (1838) without figures from near
Berlin. Figures of this taxon were published in Ehrenberg (1843) (Fig. 3, g, h), but not from
Berlin. The figure in Ehrenberg (1854) comes from “Kieselguhr von Ceyssat, Puy de Dome” andseems to be the same locality as Ehrenberg (1838). I designate this figure as the lectotype for thistaxon.
7.

Cocconeis lineata Ehrenb. Abh. Köningl. Akad. Wiss. Berlin 1841: 318, 369. 1843; Mikrogeol. pl. 6. f. 40. pl. 9-I. f. 47. 1854.

Type locality: Atotonilco el Grande, Mexico.
Lectotype (here designated): An illustration in Mikrogeologie (Ehrenberg 1854) (Pl. 9-I, Fig. 47)(Fig. 3, f).
Cocconeis lineata Ehrenb. was described in Ehrenberg (1843) from Atotonilco el Grande,
Mexico, without a figure. The figures for this taxon were published in Ehrenberg (1854) from
“Bergmehl von Santafiora” (Ehrenberg 1854: Pl. 6, Fig. 40) and “Kieselguhr von Ceyssat, Puy deDome” (Ehrenberg 1854: Pl. 9-I, Fig. 47). Both localities do not agree with the first description

Seven Diatoms by C. G. Ehrenberg

Fig. 3. a, b. Gomphonema subtile Ehrenb. a. An illustration in EC drawing 2253 (lectotype). b. An individual inEC Mica 260301-1v (epitype).
Fig. 3. c, d. Gomphonema Vibrio Ehrenb. c. A drawing in EC drawing 2053. d. an individual on EC mica
180516-5blFig. 3. e, f. Cocconeis lineata Ehrenb. e. Ehrenberg (1854). Mikrogeol. pl. 6. f. 40. f. Ehrenberg (1854). Mikrogeol. pl. 6. f. 40. pl. 9-I. f. 47.
Fig. 3. g–i. Cocconeis placentula Ehrenb. g, h. Ehrenberg (1843). i. Ehrenberg (1854). Mikrogeol. pl. 6. f. 40. pl.
9-I. f. 46.

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18A. TujiFig. 4. Individuals found on EC mica (330805-4bl). Cocconeis lineata Ehrenb. and/or Cocconeis placentula
Ehrenb., bar10 m m.

of this taxon. However, illustration is an important part of identification, and I designate a figure
from “Kieselguhr von Ceyssat, Puy de Dome” (Ehrenberg 1854: Pl. 9-I, Fig. 47) as the lectotypefor this taxon.
The EC mica (330805-4bl: Fig. 4) and EC sample (2225: Figs. 5, 6), which were indicated as
the original material of Mikrogeologie plate 9-I by ECGI, were found for two taxa, Cocconeis
placentula and C. lineata in the Ehrenberg Collection. No information is on the label of the EC
mica. The microscopic images on EC mica number 330805-4bl are shown in Figure 4. Though
Ehrenberg (1854) suggested the coexistence of both taxa, I cannot divide two morphologicaltypes in Cocconeis individuals. Because of the low resolving power on the EC mica and no information on the label, the EC mica does not give enough information to differentiate both taxa.

Seven Diatoms by C. G. Ehrenberg

Fig. 5. Individuals found from a slide made from EC sample 2225, bar10 m m. Cocconeis lineata Ehrenb. and/or Cocconeis placentula Ehrenb.

1920A. TujiFig. 6. Individuals found in EC sample 2225, a. bar10 m m, b. bar5 m m, c. bar2 m m, d. bar5 m m, e.
bar5 m m, f. bar10 m m. Cocconeis lineata Ehrenb. and/or Cocconeis placentula Ehrenb.

Since EC sample 2225 is original raw material for the EC mica and figures in Ehrenberg (1854),
it is most suitable for distinguishing both taxa. The light microscopy images in EC sample 2225
are shown in Figure 5, and scanning electron microscopy images from the Sample are shown in
Figure 6. Although the range in valve size is very large, the morphological variation in Figures 5and 6 seems to be the variation of one taxon. Ehrenberg may have distinguished the raphid valve
and araphid valve as different taxa.

Seven Diatoms by C. G. Ehrenberg

21

Acknowledgments
I thank Dr. David Lazarus, Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin, for the use of his laboratory
facilities and his help in searching Ehrenberg’s Collection.
References
Ehrenberg, C. G., 1838. Die Infusionsthierchen als vollkommene Organismen. Ein Blick in das tiefere organische Leben
de Natur. Verlag von Leopold Voss, Leipzig. pp. i–xvii, 1–548, pls. 1–64.
Ehrenberg, C. G., 1843. Verbreitung und Einflufs des mikroskopischen Lebens in Süd-und Nord-Amerika. Abh. Königl.
Preuß, Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1841: 291–445, 4 pls.
Ehrenberg, C. G., 1854. Mikrogeologie. Das Erden und felsen schaffende Wirken des unsichtbar kleinen selbstständigenLebens auf der Erde. Texte. Leopold Voss, Leipzig, 374 p, 40 pls.
Jahn, R. & H. Lange-Bertalot, 1995. Proposal to conserve the name Gomphonema vibrio Ehrenb. (Bacillariophyceae)with a conserved type. Taxon, 44: 221–222.
Lange-Bertalot, H. & R. Jahn, 2000. On the identity of Navicula (Frustulia) rhomboides and Frustulia saxonica (Bacillariophyceae). Sys. Geogr. Plants, 70: 255–261.
Lazarus, D. & R. Jahn, 1998. Using the Ehrenberg collection. Diatom Res., 13: 273–291.
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