Diagnostic features
Boat shaped (or elongated leaf shaped) in valve view with fine parallel striae. The tips of the valve may be rostrate (appearing as if slightly squeezed and extended lengthwise) depending on species. The striae on the valve surface are parallel or almost parallel throughout. The raphe lies in a pronounced thick longitudinal strip of silica. Each cell (when living) contains two golden-brown chloroplasts, one against each inside edge of the cell.
![[Craticula molestiformis], X1000. Photo: Phil Novis, Manaaki Whenua Image](/assets/Tools-And-Resources/Identification/algae/craticula_molestiformis_phil1000__ScaleWidthWzEwMjRd.jpg)