The
Chlorophyceae are one of the classes of
green algae, distinguished mainly on the basis of ultrastructural morphology. For example the chlorophycean CW
clade, and chlorophycean DO clade, are defined by the arrangement of their
flagella. Members of the CW clade have flagella that are displaced in a "clockwise" (CW, 1–7 o'clock) direction e.g.
Chlamydomonadales. Members of the DO clade have flagella that are "directly opposed" (DO, 12–6 o'clock) e.g.
Sphaeropleales. 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 algae may store food in the form of oil droplets. Green algae usually have a rigid cell wall made up of an inner layer of
cellulose and outer layer of pectose.