Scytonema
| Scytonema | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Bacteria |
| Division: | Cyanobacteria |
| Class: | Hormogoneae |
| Order: | Nostocales |
| Family: | Scytonemataceae |
| Genus: | Scytonema Agardh ex Bornet et Flahault |
Scytonema is a genus of photosynthetic cyanobacteria that contains over 100 species. It grows in filaments that form dark mats. Many species are aquatic and are either free-floating or grow attached to a submerged substrate, while others species grow on terrestrial rocks, wood, soil, or plants. Scytonema is a nitrogen fixer, and can provide fixed nitrogen to the leaves of plants on which it is growing on.[1] Some species of Scytonema form a symbiotic relationship with fungi to produce a lichen.