algae

algae

 [al´je]

a group of plants living in the water, including all seaweeds, and ranging in size from microscopic cells to fronds hundreds of feet long.

blue-green algae former name for members of the group now called Cyanobacteria.

al·gae

(al'jē),

A division of eukaryotic, photosynthetic, nonflowering organisms that includes many seaweeds.

[pl. of L. alga, seaweed]

al·gae

(al'jē)

A division of eukaryotic, photosynthetic, nonflowering organisms that includes many seaweeds.

[pl. of L. alga, seaweed]

algae

a collective term for several taxonomic groups of plants, namely Charophyta, Chlorophyta, Chrysophyta, Euglenophyta, Phaeophyta, Pyrrophyta and Rhodophyta. All are relatively simple photosynthetic forms with unicellular reproductive structures. They range from UNICELLULAR organisms to non-vascular filamentous or thalloid plants. Algae occur in both marine and fresh water, while others are terrestrial, living in damp situations on walls, trees, etc.

Algae

Plants that have one cell.

Mentioned in: Fish and Shellfish Poisoning

algae

a group of plants living in the water, including all seaweeds, and ranging in size from microscopic cells to fronds many meters long. A group of unicellular algae, the Cyanobacter, growing on dams, ponds and lakes can cause severe mortalities in animals drinking the water. See also algal, microcystis, prototheca. Artificial culture of algae as a source of livestock feed is being tried in some arid countries.