Zygnema
Zygnema spp. · Algae
A bloom in the water · Photo: Cristiane Colodel / CC BY
Also called Green slime, Filamentous algae, Pond scum
How to identify Zygnema
- Slimy, unbranched green threads
- Two star shaped green bodies in each cell under a strong hand lens
- Forms soft clouds or floating mats
- Feels like Spirogyra
Similar species
Spirogyra has a spiral band; Mougeotia has a single flat plate.
Growth profile
| Season | Most common in spring and early summer, declining in heat, and overwinters as spores. |
|---|---|
| Starts | About 45 to 55 F water |
| Light | Full sun |
| Depth | Bottom and floating mats |
| How it spreads or reproduces | Fragments and resting spores |
| Habitat | Ponds, ditches, wetlands and lake edges in still, shallow water. |
Why it matters in a lake
Usually mixed with Spirogyra in pond scum. Often found in seasonal pools.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Occasional
- Oregon: Occasional
- Wyoming: Occasional
Classification
| Kingdom | Plantae |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Charophyta |
| Class | Zygnematophyceae |
| Order | Zygnematales |
| Family | Zygnemataceae |
| Scientific name | Zygnema spp. |
Spirogyra
Cladophora
Horsehair algae
Oedogonium
Rhizoclonium
Water net
Water felt
Mougeotia
Microspora
StigeocloniumNeed a hand?
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