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

Each thread is a long tube, branching sometimes, but not divided into cells as in Spirogyra or Cladophora.

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

The number of these bands varies much in different species of Spirogyra, but is commonly two or three.

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