from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
cyanobacterium \cyanobacterium\ pl. cyanobacteria
\cyanobacteria\ [from the pigment phycocyanin.]
any of a group of photosynthetic autotrophic prokaryotic
microorganisms possessing characteristics of both bacteria
and plants. When classed as bacteria, they are assigned to
the Cyanobacteria; when classed as plants, they are assigned
to the Cyanophyta. They were earlier named {blue-green
algae}, a term less used now in technical discussions. Since
the chlorophyll within the cyanobacteria is diffused
throughout the cell, rather than being contained in
chloroplasts, they are no longer thought of as true plants.
[PJC]
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
blue-green alga \blue"-green al"ga\ pl. {blue"-green al"gae}
[from the color and resemblance to algae.]
any of a group of photosynthetic microorganisms possessing
characteristics of both bacteria and plants. When classed as
bacteria, they are assigned to the Cyanobacteria; when
classed as plants, they are assigned to the Cyanophyta. They
are now known to be prokaryotic, and are usually called
{cyanobacteria} in technical contexts. See {cyanobacterium}.
[PJC]