noun
nostoc
A genus of cyanobacteria that forms gelatinous colonies, often found in damp soil or freshwater. In Japanese, it is commonly referred to by its katakana name.
ネンジュモは食用になる種類もある。
Some species of nostoc are edible.
The kanji 念珠藻 literally means 'rosary algae', referring to the bead-like appearance of the colonies. The reading is a direct on'yomi of the kanji.