blue-green algae

noun, Biology

a widely distributed group of predominantly photosynthetic prokaryotic organisms of the subkingdom Cyanophyta, resembling phototrophic bacteria, occurring singly or in colonies in diverse habitats: some species can fix atmospheric nitrogen.

Also called cyanobacteria.

Origin

1895-1900

Examples from the web for blue-green algae

Runoff can also help create a fertile environment for cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae.
The answer is tiny organisms known as cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae.
Who will give away such a precious blue-green algae also known as green gold.
But they might well have been photosynthetic blue-green algae.
The creatures which dared to arise are called cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae.
However there is a problem with cyanobacteria or, to use its devil-spawn name, blue-green algae.
The new hordes of blue-green algae deplete the oxygen and are a less favorable food supply.
These used to be called blue-green algae, and they produce the oxygen that all animals breathe.
Many of the fossils closely resemble species of blue-green algae found all over the world today.
Hot weather has spurred blue-green algae blooms in some waters.

British Dictionary definitions for blue-green algae

blue-green algae

plural noun

the former name for cyanobacteria