The cell walls are thick, and are variously sculptured with spines, ribs, reticulations, and or projections.

The single chloroplast is variable in morphology, and may be stellate and axial or parietal, and may have or lack a pyrenoid.

His first description was in 1834, referring to a broad assemblage of green algae (including desmids) and diatoms).

The second description was in 1845, he had defined the genus for single, spherical to ellipsoidal cells which were polygonal or covered with spines or tubercles.

[1] The species Trochiscia hystrix forms a previously-unknown lineage in the class Chlorophyceae, along with Golenkinia and Treubaria, but the relationships also need to be investigated further.