Multicell Cholorophycean Green Algae-Pandorina-Volvox-Scenedesmus-Hydrodictyon-Oedogonium

Charophycean Green Algae-Klebsormidium-Spirogyra-Closterium-Staurastrum-Cosmarium-Coleochaete-Chara

Colonial

Filamentous

Klebsormidiales

Zygnematales

ColeochaetalesCharales

Synapomorphies?Synplesiomorphies?

How is morphology achieved?

Life cycle?

Multicell Cholorophycean Green Algae-Pandorina-Volvox-Scenedesmus-Hydrodictyon

Colonial

Multicell Cholorophycean Green Algae-Pandorina-Volvox-Scenedesmus-Hydrodictyon

Colonial

Multicell Cholorophycean Green Algae-Pandorina-Volvox-Scenedesmus-Hydrodictyon

Colonial

Multicell Cholorophycean Green Algae-Pandorina-Volvox-Scenedesmus-Hydrodictyon

Colonial

Multicell Cholorophycean Green Algae-Oedogonium Filamentous

Charophycean Green Algae-Klebsormidium Klebsormidiales

Charophycean Green Algae-Spirogyra-Closterium-Staurastrum-Cosmarium

Zygnematales

Charophycean Green Algae-Spirogyra-Closterium-Staurastrum-Cosmarium

Zygnematales

Desmids:-Mostly freshwater-3 planes of symmetry (WOW!)-One MAJOR plane of symmetry

-Two semicells joined at an isthmus

-Reproduction: Asexual: division along the isthmus, each new cell regrows its sister semicell. Sexual: conjugation, with dormant zygote

Charophycean Green Algae-Spirogyra-Closterium-Staurastrum-Cosmarium

Zygnematales

Charophycean Green Algae-Spirogyra-Closterium-Staurastrum-Cosmarium

Zygnematales

Charophycean Green Algae-Spirogyra-Closterium-Staurastrum-Cosmarium

Zygnematales

Charophycean Green Algae-Coleochaete Coleochaetales

Charophycean Green Algae-Chara Charales