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Name derivation:
Classification:
Microchaete Thuret ex Bornet and Flahault 1886; 34 of 45 species descriptions are currently accepted taxonomically (Guiry and Guiry 2013). Order Nostocales; Family Microchaetaceae
Morphology:
Uniseriate trichomes enclosed in firm individual sheaths of variable thickness, occurring singly or sometimes in clusters. Cells more or less isodimetric, cylindrical or occasionally barrel shaped. Crosswalls incut or not, depending on species. Basal as well as intercalary heterocysts. Rarely false branches occur at heterocysts.
Similar genera:
Habitat:
Mainly freshwater, often epiphytic on algae and submersed foliage of aquatic vascular plants. Reported from rice paddies, Spain (Ariosa et al. 2005. Few known marine species.
References:
Ariosa, Y., D. Carrasco, F. Leganés, A. Quesada and E. Fernández-Valiente 2005. Development of cyanobacterial blooms in Valencian rice fields. Bornet, É. and C. Flahault 1886 '1887'. Revision des Nostocacées hétérocystées contenues dans les principaux herbiers de France. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Botanique, Septième série 5: 51-129.  Guiry, M.D. and G.M. Guiry 2013. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 04 September 2013.