Scytonemataceae

Scytomataceae

appearance: cylindrical, untapered, unbranched filaments of auniseriate cells, but with false branching of the firmly sheathed filaments. It has heterocysts

Growth: apical never in place of heteroctysts. Cells divide and break sheath and grow longer.
reproduction may be by simple fragmentation of the tirchomes or filaments, or by hormogonia production.

The Scytonemataceae are a family of filamentous, heterocystous cyanobacteria within the order Nostocales. The family is known from freshwater, marine, and terrestrial environments, where it grows in colonies attached to the substrate. Akinetes are not known, and the members of the family are known to reproduce with nonheterocystous hormogonia.