Division Chlorophyta

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More than 10,000 species have been identified in this Division. In recent years, intensive research, particularly electron microscopy and biochemical studies have resulted in a revision of the classification of the green algae. Algologists are identifying evolutionary characters which are stratigically placing the green algae as progenitors of the land plants.

Class: Chlorophyceae - Eleven representative orders

  • Order: Volvocales
    Vegetative cells are flagellated and actively motile; some genera are unicellular; some are
    multicellular (colonial).

    Unicellular: Chlamydomonas
    Colonial: Volvox

  • Order: Chlorococcales
    Cells may be solitary or in non-filamentous colonies.

    Unicellular: Chlorella
    Colonial: Scenedesmus | Pediastrum | Hydrodictyon

  • Order: Cladophorales

    Cladophora

  • Order: Dasycladales
    Very elaborate amd exotic thalli, some are encrusted with lime.

    Acetabularia

  • Order: Zygnematales

    Spirogyra

  • Order: Desmidiales

    Micrasterias | Closterium

  • Order: Ulotrichales
    Restriction of cell division to one direction. Unbranched filamentous organisms.

    Ulothrix

  • Order: Ulvales
    A parenchymatous type of cell arrangement; organisms possess a foliaceous or tubular
    thallus. Some cells are multinucleate.

    Ulvales | Enteromorpha

  • Order: Chaetophorales(Heterotrichous Ulotrichales)
    The filamentous Ulotrichales whose thalli are typically composed of both prostrate and
    erect components (heterotrichous)

    Stigeoclonium | Draparnaldia | Fritschiella

  • Order: Oedogoniales
    A well defined Order with several unique features. They are regarded as a small group that
    has diverged from the main line of evolution. The body of the plant consists of simple or
    branched filaments with a modified attachment cell. The cells are uninucleate.

    Oedogonium

  • Order: Charales
    This Order is very different from the rest of the Chlorophyta. Botanists have classified the
    organisms of the Charales in different categories. They have been placed in (1) the
    separate division, CHAROPHYTA, (2) the separate Class, Charophyceae, and they have
    also been considered distinct from the algae altogether.

    Chara

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