Valves clavate, swollen at the center of the valve. Central undulation slightly larger than headpole. Length: 26.7–44.0 μm, breadth: 8.7–10.0 μm. Headpole is broadly rounded, capitate and the footpole is more narrow. Footpole broadened at the end to form a flipper - like structure. Axial area is narrower. Central area small, rectangular. Raphe is lateral, undulate. A round stigma is present in the central area close to the proximal raphe endings. Striae punctuate, distinctly radiate, 11–12 in 10 μm. Apical pore fields evident at footpole. SEM: valves have areolae with volate occlusions, with C - shaped openings (Fig. 294).

Type: — RUSSIA. Lake Baikal: Bay, Cladophora spp. on bottom, 52º 27.042’ N, 106º 53.215’ E, M. Kulikovskiy, 14 July 2011 (holotype: IBIW! slide no 18589 = Fig. 214).

Etymology: —Greek ‘para’ means besides of G. capitatum.

Observations: —This species is distinguished from G. capatatum and other closely - related taxa by the unusual flipper - like structure of the footpole.