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Description of major groups

[Chara] with round, orange antheridium, X6. Photo: Phil Novis, Manaaki Whenua

Charophytes

In common with other green algae and land plants, charophytes have grass green chloroplasts containing chlorophylls [a] and [b], and stor...

[Actinastrum] (sewage pond), X640. Photo: Otago Regional Council & Manaaki Whenua

Chlorophytes

As in other green algae, chlorophytes store starch in their chloroplasts, which contain chlorophylls [a] and [b]. Chlorophytes are extrem...

[Anabaena], Tomahawk Lagoon, X640. Photo: Otago Regional Council & Manaaki Whenua

Cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria are also known as "blue-green algae", due to the colour of their cytoplasm in the absence of shielding pigments. However, ...

[Chrysocapsa], Flemming River, X640. Photo: Otago Regional Council & Manaaki Whenua

Chrysophyceans

Chrysophyceans are also known as the "golden algae". As suggested by their colour, they are close relatives of diatoms, but also, counte...

[Achnanthes], Lake Waihola, X640. Photo: Otago Regional Council & Manaaki Whenua

Diatoms

Diatoms are characterised by a unique feature: a cell wall composed of silica, which fits together in two halves like a box. The lid and...

[Peridinium], Lake Hayes, X640. Photo: Otago Regional Council & Manaaki Whenua

Dinoflagellates

Dinoflagellates, as their name suggests, are mostly flagellate unicells, motile by using their flagella to swim. The arrangement of their...

[Euglena] (sewage pond), X640. Photo: Otago Regional Council & Manaaki Whenua

Euglenoids

Euglenoids have green chloroplasts, but they are not green algae. Rather, several lines of evidence indicate that they obtained their gr...

[Calaglossa], lower Taieri River, X40. Photo: Otago Regional Council & Manaaki Whenua

Rhodophytes

Rhodophytes appear red due to an accessory pigment that is often found in high concentrations in their chloroplasts. However, freshwater...

[Vaucheria], Pomahaka riverbank, X160. Photo: Otago Regional Council & Manaaki Whenua

Xanthophyceans

Xanthophyceans are also known as the "yellow-green" algae. Although they closely resemble green algae, they are quite distantly related....

[Staurastrum], Lake Johnson, X640. Photo: Otago Regional Council & Manaaki Whenua

Zygnematales

In common with other green algae and land plants, zygnemataleans have grass green chloroplasts containing chlorophylls a and b, and store...