Zygnema

Zygnema
Zygnema, showing characteristic dual star-shaped chloroplasts.
Numbered ticks are 20 μm apart.
Numbered ticks are 122 μm apart.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Clade: Viridiplantae
(unranked): Charophyta
Class: Zygnematophyceae
Order: Zygnematales
Family: Zygnemataceae
Genus: Zygnema
C. Agardh, 1817
Synonyms
  • Globulina Link in Nees 1820[1]
  • Lucernaria Roussel, 1806[2][1]
  • Pleurodiscus Lagerheim, 1895[3][1]
  • Rhynchonema Kützing, 1849[1]
  • Stellulina Link, 1833[1]
  • Thwaitesia Montagne, 1845[1]
  • Tyndaridea Bory de Saint-Vincent 1822[1]
  • Tendaridea Bory de Saint-Vincent 1822[1]
  • Tendaridella Gaillon, 1833[1]

Zygnema is a genus of freshwater filamentous thalloid alga comprising about 100 species.[4] 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 (stellate) chloroplasts arrayed along the axis of the cell.

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Guiry, M.D. (2013). Taxonomy and nomenclature of the Conjugatophyceae (=Zygnematophyceae). Archived March 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Algae. An International Journal of Algal Research 28: 1-29.
  2. ^ "Algaebase, entry for Lucernaria". Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Algaebase, entry for Pleurodiscus". Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  4. ^ Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. (2008). "Zygnema". AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. Retrieved 2009-02-21.