Family: Unicells or cells loosely attached to form hyphae; cell body varied in shape, a constriction at the center in most species; cell walls consisting of two or more parts, with small pores and various ornaments (Illustrations of The Japanese Fresh-water Algae, 1977).
Genus: Variable in shape and in size; mostly longer than wide; strong constriction at center; semicell pyramid-shaped, apically flattened with indentation (or notch, some species lack this notch); laterally straight or wavy or indented; one chloroplast in each semicell; one pyrenoid for each chloroplast (Illustrations of The Japanese Fresh-water Algae, 1977).

E. ansatum var. ansatum 1 clips 88 x 44 μm Hiroshima, 1998

E. ansatum var. ansatum 2 clips μm Hiroshima, 1998