What is "frustule"

Frustule \Frus"tule\, n. [L. frustulum, dim. fr. frustum a piece: cf. F. frustule.] (Bot.) The siliceous shell of a diatom. It is composed of two valves, one overlapping the other, like a pill box and its cover.

n. (context botany English) The siliceous shell of a diatom.

A frustule is the hard and porous cell wall or external layer of diatoms. The frustule is composed almost purely of silica, made from silicic acid, and is coated with a layer of organic substance, which was referred to in the early literature on diatoms as pectin, a fiber most commonly found in cell walls of plants. This layer is actually composed of several types of polysaccharides.

The frustule's structure is usually composed of two overlapping sections known as thecae (or less formally as valves). The join between the two thecae is supported by bands of silica (girdle bands) that hold them together. This overlapping allows for some internal expansion room and is essential during the reproduction process. The frustule also contains many pores and slits that provide the diatom access to the external environment for processes such as waste removal and mucilage secretion.