Genus: Unicellular, but autospore may become temporary colonical; planktonic; cell body spherical with many elongated spiny projections; a single chloroplast cup-shaped, with a single pyrenoid (Guide book to the "Photomicrographs of the Freshwater Algae", 1998). Species: Vegetative cells spherical, 10-18 μm diam., with many short spines 15-20 μm long, 1 chloroplast cup-shaped, 1 pyrenoid (Illustrations of The Japanese Fresh-water Algae, 1977).

Similar genus --> Franceia; Acanthosphaera; Micractinium; Errerella; Chodatella;

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

Franceia sp.Golenkinia paucispina ?, stock Tnk-30, axenic culture with Hyponex and KCM, after prolonged culuture (6/16-8/12), cell body μm long, μm wide, x 640, Nishi-nasuno town, Tochigi Pref., Japan, March 2001 by Y. Tsukii
31 μm 63 μm 94 μm; x 640

Franceia, stock Tnk-30, axenic culture with KCM and Hyponex (March 25 to April 23, 2002), cell body μm long, μm wide, x 640, Karasuga-mori Park, Nishi-nasuno town, Tochigi Pref., 2000 by Y. Tsukii

Franceia, stock Tnk-30, axenic culture with KCM and Hyponex (March 25 to April 29, 2002), cell body μm long, μm wide, x 640, Karasuga-mori Park, Nishi-nasuno town, Tochigi Pref., 2000 by Y. Tsukii

Golenkinia paucispina W. et G. S. West: Vegetative cells spherical, 10-18 μm diam., with many short spines 15-20 μm long, 1 chloroplast cup-shaped, 1 pyrenoid (Illustrations of The Japanese Fresh-water Algae, 1977).