Glossary
Like the rest of this website, the glossary is a work in progress. If we’ve missed a term, please contact us to let us know the term and references.
Process
Process is a general term for the many types of siliceous structures that protrude from the diatom valve.
Process is often used for features such as fultoportula, rimoportula, or carinoportula when not enough detail is observable. For instance, "ring of fultoportulae" might be more informative but might need SEM instead of LM to determine the structure.
Image Credit: Sarah Spaulding
Image Credit: Marina Potapova
Image Credit: Sarah Spaulding
Image Credit: Marina Potapova
Image Credit: Sarah Spaulding
External view of the rimoportula of Stephanodiscus yellowstonensis.
Image Credit: Marina Potapova
Internal view of the rimoportula of Stephanodiscus yellowstonensis, showing the internal opening in the shape of a pair of lips.
Image Credit: Sarah Spaulding
Internal view of Stephanodiscus valve showing rows of areolae covered with domed cribra (SEM). Arrow designates a single areola. Fultoportulae are also visible.
Image Credit: Marina Potapova
Internal opening of carinoportulae in Orthoseira roeseana (SEM).