Definition
Genus Spirogyra is a group of filamentous green algae known for their spiral-shaped chloroplasts. These algae are found in freshwater habitats and often form slimy, floating masses. They reproduce both sexually (through conjugation) and asexually (through fragmentation). Spirogyra is a common sight in ponds and ditches and is often used in biology classrooms to study algal structure and reproduction. The spiral chloroplasts make it very easy to identify.