Some strains of Skeletonema costatum show a morphological characteristic consisting in the presence of long polar fibres about 50 p in length and 0.05 p. in diameter. The electron-microscope shows the insertion of these polar fibres on the intercellular spines as if they were extruded through a pore. Their chemical properties have not been ascertained but most likely they are either siliceous or chitinous. Obviously such long polar fibres give to S. costatum some special hydrodynamic properties

Sexto Simposio Internacional sobre Algas Marinas, 9 a 13 de septiembre de 1968, Santiago de Compostela - Sixth International Seaweed Symposium, 9-13 September 1968, Santiago de Compostela.-- 4 pages, 5 photographs

Peer reviewed