spirogyra

any green freshwater multicellular alga of the genus Spirogyra, consisting of minute filaments containing spirally coiled chloroplasts

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.