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Filaments not spiral shaped
Fine colourless hairs absent
Filaments single within a sheath or no sheath
How wide are the cells relative to their length?
Cells shorter than wide
Most cells are as long as or longer than wide
![[Oscillatoria], Kaikorai estuary, X640. Photo: Otago Regional Council & Manaaki Whenua](/assets/Tools-And-Resources/Identification/algae/oscillatoria2__FillMaxWzMwMCwyMDBd.jpg)
![[Phormidium].](/assets/Tools-And-Resources/Identification/algae/phormidium320__FillMaxWzMwMCwyMDBd.jpg)