The Fucales (fucoids) are an
order
Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to:
* Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood
* Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of ...
in the
brown algae
Brown algae (singular: alga), comprising the class Phaeophyceae, are a large group of multicellular algae, including many seaweeds located in colder waters within the Northern Hemisphere. Brown algae are the major seaweeds of the temperate and p ...
(class Phaeophyceae). The list of families in the Fucales, as well as additional taxonomic information on algae, is publicly accessible at Algaebase
ref name="Guiry and Guiry">Guiry, M.D. and Guiry, G.M. 2006. AlgaeBase version 4.2. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 7 December 2006
The class Phaeophyceae is included within the division Heterokontophyta.
[Hardy, G. and Guiry, M.D. 2006. ''A Check-list and Atlas of the Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland.'' 2006. The British Phycologcal Society. ] This name comes from the Greek word ''phaios'' meaning "brown" and ''phyton'' meaning plant.
[Huisman, J.M. 2000. ''Marine Plants of Australia.'' University of Western Australia Press, Australia. ] They include some of the largest organisms in the sea, but some are small and fine in structure.
Classification
The Fucales include some of the more common
littoral seaweed
Seaweed, or macroalgae, refers to thousands of species of macroscopic, multicellular, marine algae. The term includes some types of '' Rhodophyta'' (red), ''Phaeophyta'' (brown) and '' Chlorophyta'' (green) macroalgae. Seaweed species such as ...
s and the members of the order have the typical seaweed construction: a
holdfast,
stipe, and
lamina. The lamina is often much branched and may include gas-filled bladders. Growth is by division of the apical cells.
They are oogamous - fusion between the small male gamete and the large female gamete.
References
Further reading
*Fletcher, R.L.1987. ''Seaweeds of the British Isles.'' Volume 3, Part 1. British Museum (Natural History), London.
External links
Fucales at Algaebase
{{Taxonbar, from=Q8221361
Brown algae orders