Cyanophycota
Species in this group are distributed widely in both salt and freshwater forms. Most species are covered by a gelatinous sheath which enables them to live in close vicinity to hot springs, in polluted water or on moist tile and soil.
During the summer some species increase in abundance they form a pond scum. Some varieties poison water supplies.
Blue-green algae are the simplest form of all algae. They have a poorly defined nucleus and pigmentation are unconfined, spreading over the cells. Reproduction is by simple cell division. Some of the blue-green algae occur in the form of a single cell, some in filaments while others in gelantinous masses.
Chroococcus has distinctive gelatinous sheaths.
Merismopedia is connected in flat colonies.
Oscillatoria are arranged in a filament resembling a stack of wafers.
Nostoc has strings of beadlike cells.
In abundance, Gloetrichia can be an irritant to the skin of swimmers.
Taxonomic Hierarchy |
Kingdom |
Monera – monerans |
Phylum |
Cyanophycota – blue-green algae, cyanophytes |
Direct Children: |
Genus |
Prochlorococcus Chisholm et. al., 2001 |
Class |
Cyanophyceae |
Cyanophycota, Taxonomic Serial No.: 601 |
References
A Golden Guide: Non-Flowering Plants ©1967