Oscillatoria | |
---|---|
Oscillatoria princeps | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Bacteria |
Phylum: | Cyanobacteria |
Class: | Cyanophyceae |
Order: | Oscillatoriales |
Family: | Oscillatoriaceae |
Genus: | Oscillatoria Vaucher ex Gomont, 1822 |
Type species | |
Oscillatoria princeps Vaucher ex Gomont
| |
Species | |
See list in body text |
Oscillatoria is a genus of filamentous cyanobacteria. It is often found in freshwater environments.[1] Its name refers to the oscillating motion of its filaments as they slide against each other to position the colony to face a light source.[2] Oscillatoria uses photosynthesis to survive and reproduce. Each filament of Oscillatoria consists of a row of cells called a trichome. The tip of the trichome oscillates like a pendulum.
Reproduction takes place asexually by fragmentation. Usually the filament breaks into a number of fragments called hormogonia. Each hormogonium consist of one or more cells and grows into a filament by cell division in one direction.[1]
As a result of recent genetic analyses, several new genera were erected from this genus, e.g. Tenebriella.[3]