Planktonic, epipelic and epiphytic algae were studied monthly, during the period from January to December 1985 in the Garmat ali river, a naturally regulated river draining to the al‐Hammar marsh, Iraq. Chlorophyll‐a, primary productivity and water quality variables were also measured. High light penetration was noticed during the winter and spring. The water is oligohaline, alkaline and very hard. Reactive nitrate was found in higher concentrations than nitrite, and there were low concentrations of reactive phosphate. Two peaks were noticed for chlorophyll‐a concentrations during spring and autumn, whereas only one occurred during autumn for primary productivity. The study area may be characterized as typically mesotrophic. A total of 154 species of algae was identified, including 65, 89, 98 and 77 species of plankton, epipelic and epiphytic algae on Potamogeton lucens and on Ceratophyllum demersum, respectively. Only 25 species were common to all the different communities. Diatoms were the dominant group in the epipelic and epiphytic algae during the study period, as well as in the plankton during spring and autumn. Seasonal variations were clear in the total cell numbers of algae from different habitats.