| Water net | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Clade: | Viridiplantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Chlorophyceae |
| Order: | Sphaeropleales |
| Family: | Hydrodictyaceae |
| Genus: | Hydrodictyon Roth |
| Species | |
The water net (genus Hydrodictyon) is a taxon of freshwater green algae in the family Hydrodictyaceae. Hydrodictyon does well in clean, eutrophic water, and has become a nuisance in New Zealand, where it has been recently introduced. The name water net comes from the mesh structure of their colonies, which can extend several decimeters.
Hydrodictyon consists of colonies of cylindrical cells that are joined end-to-end to form a net-like structure. The cells usually form pentagonal or hexagonal subgroups. Cells contain a parietal chloroplast with many small pyrenoids.[1]
- ^ Matthews, Robin A. (2016). "Freshwater Algae in Northwest Washington, Volume II, Chlorophyta and Rhodophyta". A Collection of Open Access Books and Monographs. Western Washington University. doi:10.25710/fctx-n773.