Ophiocytium parvulum

Free floating cells that are cylindrical, long and curved into an S-shape or a spiral. Cells average 3-10µ in diameter. According to Prescott (see Taxonomic References), some of the free-floating forms are probably the same species as the attached form, becoming planktonic with age and the basal stipe appearing as a polar spine. This sample collected from Back River near Baltimore, August 2003.

Chlorophyceae