Possessing large, screw-like coils devoid of a mucous sheath, these organisms can be blue-green, olive-green, or reddish-brown in color. They may exist individually and float freely or cluster together in slimy clumps. The thylakoids within their cells are organized either radially or in a whirled pattern. Each cell displays visible cross walls and distinctive pore arrangements in the cell wall, including a circular row of pores. The apical or end portions of the cells are rounded or cylindrical, potentially featuring calyptras or thickened walls. Reproduction occurs through the fragmentation of mature trichomes into shorter filaments.