A taxonomic class comprising all diatoms, the single-celled algae with distinctive silica shells.
From Greek diatoma 'cut through' + -eae (scientific Latin suffix for taxonomic classes). This represents one of the major algal groups in modern biological classification.
Diatomeae represent one of nature's greatest inventions: organisms that essentially build themselves tiny glass houses, with each species creating a uniquely beautiful geometric shell pattern.
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