01 any of a group of photosynthetic microorganisms possessing characteristics of both bacteria and plants. When classed as bacteria, they are…
pl.
blue"-green al"gae
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1.
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. Also: cyanobacteria See: cyanobacterium