Microspora
| Microspora | |
|---|---|
| A, Microspora amœna (Kütz.) Lagerh. B and C, ? M. abbreviata (Rabenh.) Lagerh.; B, vegetative filament; C, filament with aplanospores (a). D, M. pachyderma (Wille) Lagerh. E, single vegetative cell of M. amœna var. crassior Hansg., showing the reticulated chloroplast. The indistinct blur in the centre of the cell indicates the position of the nucleus. F, fragment of filament of M. amœna with aplanospore (a). | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Clade: | Viridiplantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Chlorophyceae |
| Order: | Sphaeropleales |
| Family: | Microsporaceae |
| Genus: | Microspora Thuret, 1850 |
| Type species | |
| Microspora floccosa (Vaucher) Thuret | |
| Species | |
| |
Microspora is a genus of green algae in the family Microsporaceae. Microspora was first named by Gustave Thuret in 1850. The name was used by Arthur Hill Hassall earlier in 1843, for another genus, but Thuret's genus has been conserved over Hassall's.
Microspora is a freshwater alga, found in still or flowing water. It is most common in the colder months of the year. One species, Microspora ficulinae, is an endosymbiont within marine sponges. It has a cosmopolitan distribution.