A study of the diatomCerataulus laevis—The structure of the auxospore and the initial cell

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Abstract
The auxospore of Cerataulus laevis expands as a thin-walled spherical cell and remains attached to the mother-cell. No organic component has been observed but a fused siliceous component, unlike the numerous scales of other “centric” auxospores, is reported. The mature auxospore and the initial cell is markedly asymmetric and its pervalvar axis lies at an angle to that of the mother cell. The initial epivalve is a distorted funnel shape, open at both ends and lacks ocelli. The initial hypovalve is cup-shaped and with its ocelli and regularly arranged areolae resembles the normal vegetative valves more closely than does the initial epivalve.