Zygnema

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

Zygnema is a genus of freshwater filamentous thalloid alga comprising about 100 species. 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.

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