Marimo
| Marimo | |
|---|---|
| Marimo in Lake Akan in Japan | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Ulvophyceae |
| Order: | Cladophorales |
| Family: | Pithophoraceae |
| Genus: | Aegagropila Kützing |
| Species: | A. brownii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Aegagropila brownii (Dillwyn) Kützing
| |
Marimo (also known as Cladophora ball, moss ball, moss ball pet, or lake ball) is a rare growth form of Aegagropila brownii (a species of filamentous green algae) in which the algae grow into large green spheres with a velvety appearance.
The species can be found in a number of lakes and rivers in Japan and Northern Europe. Colonies of marimo balls are known to form in Japan and Iceland, but their population has been declining.