Light micrograph of filaments of Spyrogyra, a green algae which form slimy threads called \water- silk\" or \"mermaid's tresses\" in stagnant or slow

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Light micrograph of filaments of Spyrogyra, a green algae which form slimy threads called \water- silk\" or \"mermaid's tresses\" in stagnant or slow moving water, becoming abundant in spring or autumn. The filaments are made up of individual long cells which secrete a mucilaginous substance that binds adjacent cells. Each cell contains one or more chloroplasts, which are arranged in spiral bands. The chloroplasts house the chlorophyll pigments & are sites of photosynthesis within each cell. A single nucleus per cell is suspended by protoplasmic threads in the middle of a large central vacuole."

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Size: 5126px × 3477px
Photo credit: © CLAUDE NURIDSANY & MARIE PERENNOU/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: alga, algae, algal, botany, chlorophyll, filamentous, form, green, light, lm, micrograph, nature, plant, sp., spiral, spirogyra