The Chlorophyta organisms have chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b , and the pigment B Carotene. The size of the green algae starts at approximately 5 or 6 m m and longer. General Features of Chlorophyta. Most chlorophytes are aquatic, but some green algae can live on the surface of snow, treetrunks, in soils, symbiotically with protozoans, hydras or lichen forming fungi. The typical color of plants, resulting from chlorophyll pigment, is green.
Some filamentous types bear a superficial resemblance to higher plants.
The motile unicellular organisms are free swimming, moving by means of whip-like flagella. Even non-motile organisms may produce motile reproductive cells called zoospores. These are a few of the many types of chlorophytes. Chlorophytes are important as a source of food for other aquatic organisms such as plankton and they also contribute to the world s oxygen supply. But, large populations of chlorophytes can produce an unpleasant taste and odor in drinking water or clog filtration equipment.