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• Identification »
• Identification of algae »
• Freshwater algae »
• How to identify algae »
• Identification guide »
• Colonial »
• Cell contents (chloroplasts when present) are green or blue-green »
• Cells contain membrane-bound organelles (chloroplasts, nuclei etc) and cell contents are grass green »
• Colonies have regular structure

Colonies have regular structure, not haphazardly arranged; colonies of cells often in multiples of 2 or 4; whip-like flagella absent

5. Please select how cells are attached to each other.

• 
  Colonies are hollow spherical balls of cells
  Coelastrum
• 
  Cells are arranged in a flat plate; cells have constrictions resulting in colonies with a star-like appearance
  Pediastrum
• 
  Cells ellipsoidal to tapered to near-cylindrical, joined at the long edges, usually in multiples of 4, sometimes with spines and warts