Green algae

Green algae are microscopic protists. One can find them in all sorts of natural water: salt water, freshwater and brackish water. The group is less used in classification today. Although most are descended from a common ancestor, some are not. Some of their descendants, the land plants are not included in the group, so the group is not monophyletic.

The green algae are the large group of algae from which the higher plants developed.

The green algae include unicellular and colonial flagellates, usually but not always with two flagella per cell, as well as various colonial, coccoid, and filamentous forms. In the Charales, the closest relatives of higher plants, full differentiation of tissues occurs. There are about 6000 species of green algae.Thomas, D. 2002. Seaweeds. The Natural History Museum, London.  Many species live most of their lives as single-cells, other species form colonies or long filaments.

 Related pages 
Algae
Brown algae
Euglena, a protist that includes a green alga within its cells
Seaweed

 References 

 More reading 



 Other websites 
Green algae and cyanobacteria in lichens 
Green algae (UC Berkeley)
Monterey Bay green algae 

Category:Algae