In girdle view (a view from the side), one side of the cell is much higher than the other. The valve face is convex (rounded), especially near the higher part of the valve.In valve view (a view from above), the cell has a central rosette of large holes and a radial arrangement of holes with crossing arcs in the center of the valve. One ring of marginal processes (openings in the valve face) is visible in water mounts. The two larger processes are spaced 135 degrees apart. There are many disc-shaped chloroplasts.In simpler terms, the cells are taller on one side than on the other when viewed from the side. The top of the cell is rounded, especially on the taller side. When viewed from above, the cell has a group of larger holes in the middle and a pattern of holes radiating outwards from the center. There is one ring of openings around the edge of the cell, and two of the openings are larger and spaced 135 degrees apart. These cells have many disc-shaped chloroplasts.