Charles S. Boyer

“ The Surirelloideæ are usually understood to include the genera Surirella, Podocystis, Cymatopleura and Campylodiscus, all of which resemble each other more or less, either in having a keel or markings like the divisions of the keel in Surirella and a median line, or pseudoraphe. The genus Nitzschia also has a keel, but it does not border each side of the valve as in Surirella, being found either near one margin or between it and the centre. ”

“ Circumsutæ.—Valve with more or less wide longitudinal fold; keel very excentric; keel puncta quite evident; surface of valve irregularly punctate and also traversed by rows of delicate puncta which belong to a different layer of the valve.
6. Dubiæ.—Like the group Pseudo-Tryblionella, but the valves are not so much folded; frustules sometimes narrowed in the middle. The separation of species is difficult and, in part, doubtful. Keel excentric. ”

“ Many species possess the power of motion, which, however, is evident only in the free frustule. In N. paxillifer, the movement of the frustules occurs without the loss of continuity or adherence to each other, so that, while at one time the adnate frustules form a narrow filament, like that of Fragilaria, at another time they move laterally to their extreme length and form a thread of frustules adherent at their ends, later resuming their original position. ”