SOME OBSERVATIONS ON COLONIES AND ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE FRUSTULE OF COENOBIODISCUS MURIFORMIS AND ITS TRANSFER TO PLANKTONIELLA1

The marine planktonic diatom Coenobiodiscus muriformis has been reinvestigated using light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy; as a result it is proposed, to transfer the species to the genus Planktoniella. The structure and formation of colonies are discussed and compared with data from an earlier study. Further details of valve and girdle baud structure have been ascertained and the exact form of the central and peripheral tubes has been described. The relationship of the present taxon to Thalassiosira and Coscinodiscus is discussed.