"Valve small, symmetrical, linear to elliptical, with obtuse ends, terminal nodules distant; striae usually fine, connecting-zone simple. Endochrome composed of one plate, resting with its narrow median part on the surface of one of the valves, with four long prolongations along the connecting zones. Pyrenoid absent. A few elaeoplasts, sometimes represented by two libroplasts*.
"The endochrome is very uniform in all the species, the unique chromatophore-plate being always composed of two parts—a narrow median part (m. in the figures) resting on the surface of one of the valves, which may be called the dorsal valve; and four long, usually narrow, linear prolongations, turned down at a right angle to the median part and resting on both connecting-zones (pr. in the figures). The diagram fig. 11 represents such a plate when spread out, m. being the median part belonging to the valve and pr. the four prolongations resting on the connecting-zone. The diagram fig. 12 represents a transverse section of a frustule and shows the disposition of the plate in the frustule; the upper or dorsal valve is provided with an endochrome (m.), the lower or ventral valve is without one."
Mereschkowsky described Sellaphora in English, in an article (download 4.5 Mb pdf) published in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History [C. Mereschkowsky (1902) "On Sellaphora, a new genus of diatoms." Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., series 7, 9: 185-195 + detached plate IV]. The following species were included:
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