Nitella flexilis, the smooth stonewort, is a freshwater species of characean algae that is used as a model organism for its large cell size and relative ease of cultivation in the laboratory.
Description A robust species growing up to a meter long with axes up to 1mm wide. Branches in whorls once or twice divided.Ed. Guiry, M.D., John, D.M., Rindi, F. and McCarthy, T.K. 2007. New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 6: The Freshwater and Terrestrial Algae. Royal Irish Academy.
Distribution The species occurs on all continents of the world except Australia. It has been recorded from several counties in Ireland. From the Eglinton Canal in Galway; and in Counties Down and Londonderry;Morton, O. in Hackney, P. 1992. The Flora of the North-east of Ireland. Institute of Irish Studies and The Queen's University Belfast. River Dorree in Clare Island Co. Mayo 2004.Ed. Guiry, M.D., John, D.M., Rindi, F. and McCarthy, T.K. 2007. New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 6: The Freshwater and Terrestrial Algae. Royal Irish Academy.
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