Algae and cyanobacteria
Spirogyra
Spirogyra and other filamentous green algae
Green threads with chloroplasts wound into a spiral ribbon. Pond 'blanket weed' is often made of it.
What to look for
- Unbranched threads of cylindrical cells joined end to end.
- Chloroplasts as ribbons spiralling along the cell wall (Spirogyra) or plates and stars in relatives.
- Slippery to the touch; tangles in mats.
Size in the field
Threads cross the whole field; at 400× one cell may fill a good part of it.
Where to find it
Floating green mats in ponds and ditches in spring and summer.
Clips 0
No clip of this group is on the site yet. The description above is enough to check your own observation.