Ctenophora pulchella

Valves are elongate and linear to lanceolate, with capitate to rounded poles. Valves have a central area with a distinct fascia. The fascia may have ghost striae; these are indentations within the valve that do not open to the surface. The axial area is linear. The striae are parallel and clearly punctate. Each stria at the middle of the valve has about 5-6 areolae, striae at apices have 2-4 areolae. There is one rimoportula at each apex that is diagonal to the sternum, though this feature can be difficult to distinguish on light microscope on some specimens.

Larger specimens may be slightly sigmoid at the poles, and the shortest valves may have one pole slightly curved. Some valves can be slightly convex in girdle view. In some valves, the striae can diverge and become nonparallel. The sternum can be sigmoidal to irregular in shorter specimens. The variations in morphology may be indicative of multiple forms through Ctenophora pulchella life cycle, environmental conditions at the sampling site, and/or multiple varieties present within the sample.