A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Fultoportula,-ae (s.f.I), abl. sg. fultoportula: (Diatoms) strutted process, a tubular process, in some diatoms, that functions as a pore [> L. fultus, propped up + portula,-ae (s.f.I), a small gate, passage, entrance or outlet, in allusion to the ‘satellite’ pores that surround and appear to support or strengthen the central process]; cf. ‘pore;’

“A tubular process through the valve of some centric diatoms. The fultoportula consists of a central tubular process surrounded by two or more satellite pores. Externally, the fultoportula appears as either a tube or a simple pore in the valve wall. The plural form is fultoportulae. Usually associated with the secretion of β-chitin to maintain buoyancy in the plankton” (Spaulding, S.A., Lubinski, D.J. and Potapova, M. (2010). Diatoms of the United States. http://westerndiatoms.colorado.edu Accessed on 21 March, 2017].