Ctenophora

(Grunow) Williams & Round 1986      Category: Araphid
TYPE SPECIES: Ctenophora pulchella (Ralfs ex Kützing) Williams & Round

Craticula

 

Cyclostephanos

CLASS: Fragilariophyceae
  ORDER: Fragilariales
    FAMILY: Fragilariaceae

  1. Valve elongate, linear-lanceolate
  2. Central area a thickened fascia with ghost striae
  3. Rimoportulae present at each pole
  4. Rimoportula positioned diagonally

Ctenophora frustules are elongate and linear-lanceolate in valve outline. The central part of the valve has a thickened area, or fascia, with faint, ghost striae. Each pole contains a rimoportula, positioned near the axial area. The rimoportula is positioned diagonally. Living cells grow in tuft-like colonies, attached to surfaces by mucilage pads.

The genus is common in brackish waters, including sites that have anthropogenic inputs of salts.

Cite This Page:
Spaulding, S., and Edlund, M. (2009). Ctenophora. In Diatoms of the United States. Retrieved May 18, 2013, from http://westerndiatoms.colorado.edu/taxa/genus/Ctenophora

Contributor: Sarah Spaulding | Mark Edlund - January 2009

Reviewer: Sam Rushforth