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Division: Chlorophyta
The classification in the division Chlorophyta indicates that Chlorella is a green algae. Members of this division are informally known as the chlorophytes. Chlorella, like all green algae in Chlorophyta, contain chlorophylls a and b. These chlorophylls absorb red and blue light, which allow Chlorella to carry out its photosynthesis. The chlorophylls reflect green light, giving Chlorella its green color and placing it in the Chlorophyta division.
Class: Trebouxiophyceae
Chlorella is the most well known member of the Trebouxiophyceae class. There is still a wide diversity among the Trebouxiophyceae, although most of them tend to exist in fresh water or on land. Like the Chlorella, most members of the class are also unicellular. Trebouxiophyceae also contains phycobiont algae, which exist in a symbiotic relationship within lichens.
Order: Chlorellales, Family: Chlorellaceae
Chlorella belongs to the order Chlorellales and the family Chlorallaceae. Members of these groups are coccal in shape and have small green spherical cells. Because of this appearance, Chlorella is sometimes called "the green ball." Although members of Chlorellales and Chlorellaceae have a similar appearance, they are extremely diverse in other characteristics.
Difficulty with Classification
There are more than 100 species of Chlorella. Many different kinds of Chlorella appear the same, but have different characteristics, known as convergent morphology. As a result, it is difficult to classify a species of Chlorella, and many known species have already been revised. Specialistgs examine structural and biochemical properties to help correctly classify a Chorella species, as well as various molecular aspects.