Family: Zygnemataceae Genus: Spirogyra Species: Spirogyra maxima, S. negnecta, S. elongate, S. adnata, S. nitida, etc. Identifying Characteristics of Spirogyra They have a multi-cellular filamentous body with a mucilaginous sheath. They bear 2-10 spiral and ribbon-shaped chloroplasts with many pyrenoids. The cell wall is composed of pectin and cellulose. It reproduces vegetatively and sexually. Under lower temperature, vegetative reproduction occurs. It inhabits slow running water bodies and ... Spirogyra are green, free-floating algae found in ponds, lakes, and other freshwater settings. Spirogyra are typically referred to as “water silk or pond silk.” They have a vegetative structure that is unbranched and filamentous. They are named for their aesthetically pleasing spiral chloroplasts. 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. 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.
