Shell is rounded, ovoid or elongated elliptical or flask shaped, laterally compressed, aperture variable from linear to strongly curved, with or without thickened lip. Shell hyaline or slightly yellowish, with a smooth organic surface (exception: Hyalosphenia punctata which has a punctuated surface). Some species contain symbiotic zoochlorellae in cytoplasm. Ecology: freshwater, moss, soils. Type species: Hyalosphenia ligata (Tatem, 1870)