Unicellular chlorophyte with a small oval or spindle-shaped cell attached to surfaces by a stalk. Each cell has a single green chloroplast. Readily distinguished by colour from Chamaesiphon (pale blue-green) and attached diatoms (golden-brown) that occupy a similar habitat.
Characium, Welcome Creek, north Otago, X640. Photo: Otago Regional Council & Manaaki Whenua
Typical habitats
Often found in clusters attached to filamentous algae in slow flowing waters
![[Characium], Welcome Creek, north Otago, X640. Photo: Otago Regional Council & Manaaki Whenua Image](/assets/Tools-And-Resources/Identification/algae/characium640__ScaleWidthWzEwMjRd.jpg)