Zygnema

Zygnema
Zygnema, showing characteristic dual star-shaped chloroplasts.
Numbered ticks are 20 µm apart.
Numbered ticks are 122 µm apart.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Charophyta
Class: Zygnematophyceae
Order: Zygnematales
Family: Zygnemataceae
Genus: Zygnema
C. Agardh, 1817
Synonyms[1]
  • Pleurodiscus Lagerheim

Zygnema is a genus of freshwater filamentous thalloid alga comprising about 100 species.[2] A terrestrial species, Z. terrestre, is known from India. Zygnema grows as a free-floating mass of filaments, although young plants may be found anchored to streambeds with a holdfast. The filaments form a yellow-green to bright green colored tangled mat, and are composed of elongate barrel-shaped cells, each with two star-shaped chloroplasts arrayed one after the other along the axis of the cell.

Species

Some species include:

References

  1. "Algaebase, entry for Pleurodiscus Lagerheim". Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  2. Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. (2008). "Zygnema". AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. Retrieved 2009-02-21.