The Chlorophyceae are one of the classes of green algae, distinguished mainly on the basis of ultrastructural morphology. They are usually green due to the dominance of pigments chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b. The chloroplast may be discoid, plate-like, reticulate, cup-shaped, spiral- or ribbon-shaped in different species. Most of the members have one or more storage bodies called pyrenoids located in the chloroplast. Pyrenoids contain protein besides starch. Some green algae may store food in the form of oil droplets. They usually have a cell wall made up of an inner layer of cellulose and outer layer of pectose.
Botryococcaceae is a family of green algae in the class Trebouxiophyceae.
Selenastraceae is a family of green algae in the order Sphaeropleales. Members of this family are common components of the phytoplankton in freshwater habitats worldwide. A few species have been found in brackish and marine habitats, such as in the Baltic Sea.
Actinastrum is a genus of freshwater green algae. It was first described by Gustaf Lagerheim in 1882. Members of the genus are commonly found in eutrophic freshwater ponds and lakes, and have a cosmopolitan distribution.
Carteria is a genus of green algae in the family Chlamydomonadaceae. Carteria are similar in morphology to the common genus Chlamydomonas and differ by having four, rather than two, flagella at the vegetative stage.
Dicloster is a genus of green algae in the family Chlorellaceae, containing the sole species Dicloster acuatus. It is found in freshwater habitats as plankton, and is distributed around the world.
Dictyosphaerium is a genus of green algae, in the family Chlorellaceae. It occurs in freshwater habitats around the world and is planktonic. The name comes from the Greek roots diktyon, meaning "net", and sphaira, meaning "ball", referring to its morphology.
Didymogenes is a genus of microscopic green algae in the class Trebouxiophyceae. It is a planktonic species found in freshwater habitats worldwide. Formerly placed in the family Scenedesmaceae, molecular studies have placed it in the family Chlorellaceae.
Dimorphococcus is a genus of fresh water green algae in the family Scenedesmaceae. It is found as a component of the phytoplankton of freshwater ponds, lakes, and peat bogs. It is widespread, but usually not very common.
Lagerheimia is a genus of green algae in the family Oocystaceae. It is commonly found in freshwater habitats all over the world, although some species are rare and have only been recorded from Europe or the United States.
Lobosphaera is a genus of green algae in the family Trebouxiaceae. It was originally described from soils in Austria, but has since been found in freshwater habitats and as a symbiont within lichens.
Micractinium is a genus of green algae in the family Chlorellaceae. Species of the genus Micractinium are common in freshwater habitats. A few species are found as endosymbionts of protozoa, such as Micractinium conductrix and Micractinium tetrahymenae.
Paradoxia is a genus of microscopic green algae, in the family Coccomyxaceae. It is found in freshwater habitats as phytoplankton worldwide, but species are rare.
Podohedriella is a genus of green algae in the family Selenastraceae. It is found in freshwater habitats or on damp wood.
Treubaria is a genus of microscopic green algae, the sole genus in the family Treubariaceae. Treubaria is found in freshwater habitats and has a cosmopolitan distribution.
Vitreochlamys is a genus of green algae in the family Chlamydomonadaceae. It is sometimes known by the name Sphaerellopsis, published by Aleksandr Arkadievich Korshikov. However, that name is an illegitimate later homonym, preceded by SphaerellopsisM.C.Cooke. It is commonly found in freshwater habitats.
Crucigenia is a genus of green algae in the class Trebouxiophyceae. It is widespread, but not often abundant, in freshwater habitats around the world.
Tetrastrum is a genus of green algae (Chlorophyta). It is a common component of the phytoplankton of freshwater habitats, particularly eutrophic and alkaline waters.
Cecidochloris is a green algae genus in the family Chlorangiellaceae. It occurs in freshwater. However, it has only been reported so far from Europe, with an additional species from India that is incompletely described.
Bracteamorpha is a genus of green algae in the order Sphaeropleales, and is the only genus in the family Bracteamorphaceae. It contains a single species, Bracteamorpha trainorii.
