The Chlorophyta are a division of almost 7000 species, most of which are fresh water species
Their fossil record extends back 550 MYA with fresh water species evolving 450 MYA
They are considered to be ancestral to land plants for their following attributes:
- Like land plants they have chlorophyll a & b, and cartenoids in their chloroplasts
- They use starch as their storage product
- Their flagella ( only motile stages) are 2 or more anterior or laterally inserted, of equal size and whiplash
- Their cell wall is made up of cellulose, hemicellulose and pections
Within the division, there are 3 classes:
- Chlorophyceae
- Charophyceae
- Ulvophyceae
Before we go over these classes, let's review some primary concepts:
Evolution of colonial body types vs evolution of filamentous & parenchymatous morphology vs. coenocytic bodyLife cycles: sporic vs.gametic vs. zygotic meiosis
Placement of flagella and microtubules
Phragmoplasts/phycoplasts
Now, back to the groups:
Class Chorophyceae
Return to main lower algal page