Spirogyra , a freshwater green algae known as 'water silk,' featuring spiral chloroplasts and multiple pyrenoids. Learn about their structure, reproduction, and role in aquatic ecosystems. Spirogyra, any member of a genus of some 400 species of free-floating green algae found in freshwater environments around the world. Named for their beautiful spiral chloroplasts, spirogyras are filamentous algae that consist of thin unbranched chains of cylindrical cells. Introduction Spirogyra is a beautiful green alga, often found as slimy, thread-like masses floating in freshwater ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams. It is named after its unique spiral-shaped chloroplasts, which can be easily seen under a microscope. It belongs to the division Chlorophyta, class Chlorophyceae, and order Zygnematales. It is widely used as a model organism in botany because of its simple structure, attractive appearance, and interesting method of reproduction. Spirogyra Spirogyra is a green algae belonging to the class chlorophyceae. The genus Spirogyra comprises more than 300 species and most of them are free floating algae. However, some species like S. rhizopus, S. dubia etc are found attached to substratum by the means of rhizoids. Habitat: they are commonly found floating in fresh water resources like ponds, lake, ditches etc. and some are also found in slow running stream or river. Structure of Spirogyra The vegetative structure or plant ...
