Various species of "Trichodesmium" have been described based on morphology and structure of colonies formed. "Trichodesmium thiebautii" is a simultaneous diazotroph and autotroph. Instead of having localized stacks of thylakoids, "Trichodesmium" has unstacked thylakoids found throughout the cell. "Trichodesmium" blooms release carbon, nitrogen and other nutrients into the environment. "Trichodesmium" is highly vacuolated and the content and size of the vacuoles shows diurnal variation. "Trichodesmium" forms large, visible blooms in the surface waters. Like most cyanobacteria, "Trichodesmium" has a gram negative cell wall.