Valve | Glossary - Diatoms of North America

Valve

A diatom valve is the siliceous unit at one end of a frustule. Two opposite valves and their linking copulae form a frustule.

Diatom taxonomy is largely based on morphology of the valve.

See also frustule, epitheca, hypotheca, copula, girdle band, and cingulum.

Citations

Ross, R., Cox, E.J., Karayeva, N.I., Mann, D.G., Paddock, T.B.B., Simonsen, R. and Sims, P.A. (1979) An amended terminology for the siliceous components of the diatom cell Nova Hedwigia, Beihefte 64: 513-533
Round, F.E., Crawford, R.M. and Mann, D.G. (1990) The Diatoms. Biology and Morphology of the Genera. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 747 pp.

S Leptostauron Cruciform — A scanning electron micrograph showing the intricate sculpturing of the outside of a valve of Staurosirella leptostauron. Spines project from the costae, lineolate areolae make up the striae, and porelli (minute openings) compose the apical pore fields.