taxonID	type	description	language	source
3C2E407596BC5BE588637A6DD77185F6.taxon	description	Figs 1, 2, 3	en	Van de Vijver, Bart, Williams, David M. (2025): Fragilariforma meireana, a new araphid diatom species (Bacillariophyta) producing internal valves from Flanders. PhytoKeys 257: 167-177, DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.257.155919
3C2E407596BC5BE588637A6DD77185F6.taxon	etymology	Etymology. This species is named in honour of Prof. Dr Patrick Meire, former head of the research group ECOBE (Department of Biology, Antwerp University, Belgium), and initiator of the biodiversity survey in Damme in 2018.	en	Van de Vijver, Bart, Williams, David M. (2025): Fragilariforma meireana, a new araphid diatom species (Bacillariophyta) producing internal valves from Flanders. PhytoKeys 257: 167-177, DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.257.155919
3C2E407596BC5BE588637A6DD77185F6.taxon	description	Description. LM (Fig. 1). Valves linear with almost parallel, straight valve margins only very slightly narrowing just before the valve apices. Apices clearly protracted, distinctly rostrate, very rarely capitate (Fig. 1 F). Valve dimensions (n = 25): length 35 – 100 µm, width 4 – 5 µm. Sternum very narrow, linear, running from apex to apex. Central area absent. Striae parallel throughout the entire valve length, becoming very weakly radiate at the apices, 22 – 25 in 10 µm. Occasionally, two stria diverging near the valve centre (Fig. 1 B, D, G, black arrows). Rimoportula visible at both apices (Fig. 1 A, C, white arrows). Internal cells large, hyaline, robust (Fig. 1 O – Q). SEM (Figs 2, 3). Valve face flat with slightly raised virgae (Fig. 2 A, C). Striae uniseriate, composed of a series of small, rounded areolae (Fig. 2 B, C). Small marginal spines present, irregularly placed on the valve face / mantle junction (Fig. 2 B), usually on the virgae. Sternum very narrow, slightly raised (Fig. 2 B). Apical porefield large, entirely on the mantle, composed of at least 3 – 4 rows of round to quadratic porelli (Fig. 2 C). Rimoportula very small, externally rimmed (Fig. 2 B, white arrows). Occasionally, 2 rimoportulae present at one pole (Fig. 2 C, white arrows). Internally rimoportula small, weakly oblique (Fig. 2 D, E, white arrows). Valvocopula very large, plain on one side and with series of pores on the other (Fig. 2 F). Copulae small, with serrated edge, bearing one row of pores (Fig. 3 C). Internal cell robust (Fig. 3 A, B), located between both valves. Valvocopula covering most of the internal cell (Fig. 3 B, E, arrows). Internal cell with irregular ridged ornamentation (Fig. 3 D) on one side, plain on the other (Fig. 3 E). Occasionally, very shallow ridge present on the plain side visible as a thin line (Fig. 3 B).	en	Van de Vijver, Bart, Williams, David M. (2025): Fragilariforma meireana, a new araphid diatom species (Bacillariophyta) producing internal valves from Flanders. PhytoKeys 257: 167-177, DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.257.155919
