[spahy-ruh-jahy-ruh] 
| a widely distributed filamentous freshwater green alga of the genus Spirogyra. |
| spi·ro·gy·ra (spī'rə-jī'rə) n. Any of various filamentous freshwater green algae of the genus Spirogyra, having chloroplasts in spirally twisted bands. [New Latin Spīrogȳra, genus name : Latin spīra, coil; see spire2 + Greek gūros, ring.] |
| spirogyra (spī'rə-jī'rə) Pronunciation Key
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. |