Golenkinia

Golenkinia is a genus of green algae first described in 1894 by Robert Chodat. The genus is named for the Russian phycologist Mikhail Iljitsch Golenkin. Golenkinia species live in fresh water (including bodies of black water such as Winyah Bay) and are found around the world.

== Description == Members of Golenkinia are spherical unicellular organisms with numerous radiating spines. They contain a single walled cup-shaped chloroplast, which in turn contains a pyrenoid in its base. The pyrenoid is typically sheathed in starch. The pyrenoid is usually reniform, which distinguishes them from members of the similar and taxonomically-confused genus Golenkiniopsis.