The species, first described as Ulva crispa Lightfoot, is the type of the genus Prasiola.

[1] A lectotype was nominated for the species, the type location of which was provided in accompanying notation as walls that faced north and were favoured as urinals.

[1] The specific epithet is said to translate as "crisped", a reference to the irregular convolutions of the species.

[4]: 272 The species has been used a model for the study of the effects of high intensities of UV radiation on photosynthesis.

[2] Recorded world-wide mostly from cold-temperate to polar regions,[1] e.g. from Iceland,[5] the British Isles including the Isle of Man, New Zealand, Japan and the Pacific shores of North America.