On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 15:25:20 +0100, Malcolm
wrote:

In article , Sally Thompson
writes


Well, I don't know how else to describe it! This is definitely not
blanket weed (which I do recognise), but we have something like green
tapioca in one of our smaller ponds. If I scoop it up in the net, it
is surprisingly heavy and it is very jelly like and slithery. It/they
seem to have a few bubbles round them, as well. Does anyone know what
it is? I have tried a search, but it's like a needle in a haystack.

snip

I still think it may be the ciliate - called Ophrydium.

Have a look at:

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/R152062.HTM

And click on any of the links "Colonies in pond" for pics.

The lumps, though staying on the bottom a lot of the time, can rise up
the water column and coat the surface.

To learn more about them, have a look at:

http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/con.../ophrydiu.html

Malcolm, I have looked at these and I think you may be right (and Bob,
whose post I have snipped for brevity). Jelly balls is a very apt
description! I will have a closer look tomorrow - the heavy rain got
rid of quite a bit today.
Thanks for the info.

--
Sally in Shropshire, UK
bed and breakfast near Ludlow: http://www.stonybrook-ludlow.co.uk
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