Genus: Cell body crescent in shape (long, curved, tapered at both ends); cross section rounded; cell wall smooth or with longitudinal lines, bands on the cell wall in some species; chloroplast laminae ridged and radially arranged, which makes cross section star-shaped; pyrenoids aligned or scattered (Illustrations of The Japanese Fresh-water Algae, 1977). Species [var. variabile]: Cell body strongly curved, nearly semicircular, 43-140-(150) μm long, 2.5-5-(6) μm wide (Illustrations of The Japanese Fresh-water Algae, 1977).

50 μm 100 μm 150 μm; x 400 : 31 μm 63 μm 94 μm; x 640