Genus: Cell body elongated spindle in shape, straight or curved, sharply pointed at both ends; (Guide book to the "Photomicrographs of the Freshwater Algae", 1998). Species: Cell body fusiform, straight or slightly bowed, both ends tapered, 22-43 μm long, 2-6 μm wide; chloroplast parietal, elongated, with pyrenoids; cell division produces 4, 8, or 16 "autospores" (Photomicrographs of the Freshwater Algae, vol. 16, 1996).

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

Monoraphidium litorale, x 400, x 640, Tsukuba city, Ibaraki Pref., 2000 collected by N. Kinoshita, photo by Y. Tsukii

Monoraphidium litorale Hindak: Cells singular, fusiform, often attached to a subtrate or to mother cell wall remnant with one end by means of a mucous target; 22-43 micron long, 2-6 micron wide; a chloroplast pariental, trough-shaped, with a naked pyrenoid (without starch-envelope); cell division produces 4, 8 or 16 autospores (daughter cells) releasing by crosswise rupture of mother cell wall (Phtomicrog. Freshw. Alg. 16: 56, 1996)