Oscillatoria

cyanobacteria genus
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://mainten.top/science/Oscillatoria
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

Oscillatoria, genus of blue-green algae common in freshwater environments, including hot springs. This unbranched filamentous alga, occurring singly or in tangled mats, derives its name from its slow, rhythmic oscillating motion, which is thought to result from a secretion of mucilage that pushes the filament away from the direction of excretion. Reproduction is by fragmentation in which dead concave cells (separation disks) separate sections of the filament (hormogonia). When present, the mucilage sheath is very thin.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kara Rogers.