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 - Definition, Classification, Habitat, Morphology, Cultural characteristics, Life Cycle, Reproduction, Identification, Applications. Spirogyra are a threadlike microscopic genus of green alga that are known for their helical shape of chloroplasts. These DNA-resembling algae are found in freshwater environments with over 400 species known in existence today. They can range anywhere from 10 to 100 micrometers wide and several centimeters long and are typically found in freshwater environments like shallow ponds and at the edges of lakes. It’s easily forgotten that algae like Spirogyra are living creatures just like you ... Spirogyra (common names include water silk, mermaid's tresses, and blanket weed) is a genus of filamentous charophyte green algae of the order Zygnematales, named for the helical or spiral arrangement of the chloroplasts that is characteristic of the genus.
