The present paper describes the morphology, ecology and distribution of 11 species of cyanobacterium Spirulina collected from the river Tapi of Jalgaon district, Maharashtra. These are Spirulina abbreviata Lemm. f. minor Hortob, S. labyrinthiformis (Menegh.) Gomont, S. laxissima West, S. laxissima f. minor Desika., S. major Kuetz., S. meneghiana Zanard ex. Gomont, S. princeps (West and West) G. S. West, S. subsalsa Oerst. ex. Gomont, S. subtilissima Kuetz. ex Gomont, S. subtilissima f. minus forma novo and S. terrima Kuetz. noticed in polluted region of the villages situated along the bank of the river. All species showe their best growth at the end of the rainy season, except S. subtilissima which occurred throught the year. Out of these 11 taxa, S. abbreviata f. minor is collected for the first time from Maharashtra, S. terrima is new records for India and S. subtilissima f. minus forma novo is described as new taxon.
Jalgaon, Maharashtra, morpho-taxo-ecology, Spirulina, Tapi river
