Diatoma vulgaris is a very common diatom, which can also be found in flowing waters. I mainly find it on the shore of Lake Constance as dark brown or orange-brown growth on stones and in the overflow of the Mühlhalden pond.

Diatoma vulgaris forms typical zig-zag bands of usually a maximum of 20 cells (s. fig. 1 a-b). The cells are connected at the diagonal corners of each cell by a gelatinous mass (s. fig. 2 a). The cells contain many chloroplasts, which are elongated ellipsoids and lie inside the shell. In girdle view, the cells have a rectangular shape. As the only structure, several parallel-running intercalary bands can be seen in this view (s. fig. 2 c). In valve view, the cells have an ellipsoid shape and characteristic transverse striation with large intervals (s. figs 3 a-c and 4 a-b). The striae have a slightly irregular shape.