Algae Identification 2 Spirogyra

 Spirogyra

Algae Sample 

Name: Spirogyra
Common name:  Green algae
Family:  Zygnemataceae

Collection Date: 11/8/16

Habitat: Found around margarins of lakes, streams and ponds.

Location: (received in lab)

Description: unbranched, filamentous algae with cylindrical cells containing one or more green spiralling chloroplasts. Nucleus often seen in center. Ladder-like conjugation. Conjugation tubes form between filaments.
Key used: Landcare-Research -Manaaki Whenua. (n.d.). Retrieved October 12, 2016, from http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/resources/identification/algae/identification-guide/identify/guide

Keying Steps: 
1. Cells are multicellular.
2. Cells are filamentous.
3.  Cells are microscopic.
4.  Filaments are unbranched.
5. Chloroplasts inside are greenish-yellow. 
6. Cell wall smooth and feature-less, not easily dissociated from other cells.
7. Cells are wrapped around by the chloroplasts which are spiral shaped. 
8. Determined to be Spirogyra. 

Figure 1: Spirogyra under scope of magnification 10x. Notice filamentous, non-branching nature. 

Figure 2: Spirogyra under microscope of higher magnification of 40x. Notice spirals around the cells. Chloroplasts individually are spiral shaped.