Zygnematales
Zygnematales or conjugates, are an order of Charophycean algae and the progenitors of the land plants.
Common members of this green algal group are the filamentous and unbranched Spirogyra, Zygnema and Mougeotia. Also less common Mesotaenium, Netrium and Cylindrocystis. The group also appears to have given rise to the desmids which are considered a unicellular form of Zygnematales. Desmidiales forms a sister family to the multicellular Zygnematale filamentous forms shown here. Zygnematales are distinct in that sexual reproduction takes place via conjugation.
