Cymbellonitzschia possesses a raphe on the ventral margin of the valve, similar to the genus Nitzschia. In contrast to Nitzschia, however, the valves of Cymbellonitzschia are slightly to strongly asymmetric to the apical axis. The striae are uniseriate. The cells of Cymbellonitzschia are small.
Cymbellonitzschia is an uncommon genus that grows on sand and sediment surfaces.