Spirogyra

Spirogyra (common names include water silk, '''mermaid's tresses, and blanket weed') is a genus of filamentous charophyte green algae of the family Spirogyraceae, named for the helical or spiral arrangement of the chloroplasts that is characteristic of the genus. Spirogyra species, of which there are more than 500, are commonly found in freshwater habitats. Spirogyra measures approximately 10 to 150 micrometres in width (though not usually more than 60) and may grow to several centimetres in length.

== Distribution == Spirogyra can be found on every continent on Earth, including Antarctica. It is freshwater algae, found in rivers, ponds, and other such bodies of water.