spirogyra

American  

[spahy-ruh-jahy-ruh] / ˌspaɪ rəˈdʒaɪ rə /

noun

Botany.

1. a widely distributed filamentous freshwater green alga of the genus Spirogyra.

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spirogyra British  

/ ˌspaɪrəˈdʒaɪərə /

noun

1. any green freshwater multicellular alga of the genus Spirogyra, consisting of minute filaments containing spirally coiled chloroplasts

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spirogyra Scientific  

/ spī′rə-jī′rə /

1. Any of a genus of filamentous freshwater green algae having cylindrically shaped cells with spiral-shaped bands of chloroplasts. Species of Spirogyra reproduce asexually by cell division and fragmentation and sexually by conjugation. They form green scum on ponds, floated by the oxygen produced by photosynthesis.

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Etymology

Origin of spirogyra

1895–1900; < New Latin, equivalent to spiro- spiro- ² + -gyra, alteration of Greek gŷros circle or gȳrós round

Example Sentences

Some green algae may already be familiar, in particular Spirogyra and desmids.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Light micrograph A shows rectangular Spirogyra cells linked in a chain.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Two magnified individuals of a Spirogyra, forming spores by conjugation; a completed spore at base: above, successive stages of the conjugation are represented.

From The Elements of Botany For Beginners and For Schools by Gray, Asa

One of this description, Spirogyra, has done thousands of dollars' worth of damage by smothering the life out of young water-cress plants in artificial beds constructed for winter propagation.

From The Home Medical Library, Volume V (of VI) by Winslow, Kenelm

The commonest of these pond scums belong to the genus Spirogyra, and one of these will illustrate the characteristics of the order.

From Elements of Structural and Systematic Botany For High Schools and Elementary College Courses by Campbell, Douglas Houghton