Defining Characteristics:
- Colony forming? No
- Filamentous? Yes
- Solitary to mat-forming
- Cell shape is variable: cylindrical to spherical
- Sheath may be present
- Aerotopes absent
- Heterocysts occur within the filament
- Several may be present throughout a filament
- Akinetes often present
- Could be confused with: Anabaenopsis, Dolichospermum, Nostoc
Solitary filaments
Mats
