Zygnema

Zygnema
Zygnema, showing characteristic dual star-shaped chloroplasts. Numbered ticks are 20 μm apart.
Numbered ticks are 122 μm apart.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Class:	Zygnematophyceae
Order:	Zygnematales
Family:	Zygnemataceae
Genus:	Zygnema C. Agardh, 1817
Synonyms
Globulina Link in Nees 1820[1] Lucernaria Roussel, 1806[2][1] Pleurodiscus Lagerheim, 1895[3][1] Rhynchonema Kützing, 1849[1] Stellulina Link, 1833[1] Thwaitesia Montagne, 1845[1] Tyndaridea Bory de Saint-Vincent 1822[1] Tendaridea Bory de Saint-Vincent 1822[1] Tendaridella Gaillon, 1833[1]

Zygnema is a genus of freshwater filamentous thalloid alga comprising about 100 species.^[4] A terrestrial species, Z. terrestre, is known from India. Zygnema grows as a free-floating mass of filaments, although young plants may be found anchored to streambeds with a holdfast. The filaments form a yellow-green to bright green colored tangled mat, and are composed of elongate barrel-shaped cells, each with two star-shaped (stellate) chloroplasts arrayed along the axis of the cell.