blue-green alga

1 definition found

blue-green alga - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  blue-green alga \blue"-green al"ga\ pl. blue"-green al"gae
     [from the color and resemblance to algae.]
     any of a group of photosynthetic microorganisms possessing
     characteristics of both bacteria and plants. When classed as
     bacteria, they are assigned to the Cyanobacteria; when
     classed as plants, they are assigned to the Cyanophyta. They
     are now known to be prokaryotic, and are usually called
     cyanobacteria in technical contexts. See cyanobacterium.
     [PJC]