Phaeophyta 

General features of the heterokonts

Common name

Brown algae

Synonyms

None

Mode of nutrition

Autotrophic: brown chloroplasts

Habitat

Marine

Growth habit

Multicellular: parenchymatous, filamentous

Cell wall

Cellulose, alginic acids

Undulipodia (“flagella”)

One whiplash, one tinsel

Food storage

Laminarin (mannitol for transport)

Clonal reproduction

Zoospores

Sexual reproduction

Isomorphic or heteromorphic alternation of generations, or diploid-dominant; isogamous or oogamous

Representative genera

Ectocarpus, Fucus, Laminaria, Macrocystis, Zonaria

Recognized by

Multicellular brown seaweeds

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