<P> The Viridiplantae diverged into two clades . The Chlorophyta include the early diverging prasinophyte lineages and the core Chlorophyta, which contain the majority of described species of green algae . The Streptophyta include charophytes and land plants . Below is a consensus reconstruction of green algal relationships, mainly based on molecular data . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> Viridiplantae = green algae + land plants </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> Chlorophyta </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> core Chlorophyta </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> Chlorophytina </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Ulvophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Chlorophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Trebouxiophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Chlorodendrophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Pedinophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Prasinophytes Clade VIIA </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Prasinophytes Clade VIIC </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Pycnococcaceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Nephroselmidophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Mamiellophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Pyramimonadales </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Palmophyllophyceae </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Palmophyllales </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Prasinococcales </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Streptophyta = Charophyta + Embryophyta </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Mesostigmatophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Chlorokybophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Klebsormidiophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Phragmoplastophyta </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Charophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Zygnematophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Embryophytes (land plants) </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Coleochaetophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> Viridiplantae = green algae + land plants </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> Chlorophyta </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> core Chlorophyta </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> Chlorophytina </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Ulvophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Chlorophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Trebouxiophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Chlorodendrophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Pedinophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Prasinophytes Clade VIIA </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Prasinophytes Clade VIIC </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Pycnococcaceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Nephroselmidophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Mamiellophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Pyramimonadales </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Palmophyllophyceae </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Palmophyllales </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Prasinococcales </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Streptophyta = Charophyta + Embryophyta </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Mesostigmatophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Chlorokybophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Klebsormidiophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Phragmoplastophyta </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Charophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Zygnematophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Embryophytes (land plants) </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Coleochaetophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Table> <Tr> <Td> Viridiplantae = green algae + land plants </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> Chlorophyta </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> core Chlorophyta </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> Chlorophytina </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Ulvophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Chlorophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Trebouxiophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Chlorodendrophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Pedinophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Prasinophytes Clade VIIA </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Prasinophytes Clade VIIC </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Pycnococcaceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Nephroselmidophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Mamiellophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Pyramimonadales </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Palmophyllophyceae </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Palmophyllales </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Prasinococcales </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Streptophyta = Charophyta + Embryophyta </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Mesostigmatophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Chlorokybophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Klebsormidiophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Phragmoplastophyta </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Charophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Zygnematophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Embryophytes (land plants) </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> <P> Coleochaetophyceae </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table>

An example of a colonial green alga is