Orastrum partitum Varol in Al-Rifaiy et al., 1990
In honour of the late Onur Sarman and family, Istanbul, Turkey
Sarmania is a holococcolith with a prominent solid distal process that either tapers or remains parallel-sided and terminates with a plug. The complete specimens naturally settle in a side-view position. In Sarmania, the distal process is solid and comprises four ridges. The base of Sarmania, as viewed in the plan, features a rim and two pores separated by the base of the solid distal process, which appears as a diagonal cross in the plan view. The side view of the base in Sarmania reveals two levels and the ridges of the distal process. The distal process in Sarmania exhibits parallel extinction with length-slow (+) elongation in the side view. In the plan view, the base of Sarmania displays parallel extinction with length-fast (-) elongation.
Sarmania is distinguished from Kahvecia, Owenia, and Swapansahooia by its parallel extinction pattern observed at both the base and distal processes. In contrast, Kahvecia, Owenia, and Swapansahooia exhibit inclined extinction patterns.
Both Isocrystallithus and Sarmania display parallel extinction but differ in the morphology of their distal processes and the base. In Isocrystallithus, the distal process is hollow, whereas in Sarmania, it is solid and comprises four ridges. The base of Sarmania, as viewed in the plan, features a rim and two pores separated by the base of the solid distal process, which appears as a diagonal cross in the plan view. In comparison, the base of Isocrystallithus in the plan view has a narrow rim and a central opening surrounded by struts.
Al-Rifaiy, I., Varol, O. & Lemone, D. 1990. Middle to late Albian biostratigraphy of the Cuchillo Formation from Sierra de Sapellò, Mexico. Newsletters on Stratigraphy. 21: 187-200.
Varol, O. 2025a. A practical guide to optical studies of calcareous nannofossils. Grzybowski Foundation Special Publication. 29: 1-222