Phaeophyceae
/ˌfiː.oʊˈfaɪ.siː.iː/noun
A class of brown algae, including kelps and rockweeds.
Did you know?The name comes from Greek roots for “dusky” and “alga,” so even in modern biology this group is defined by its dark, pigment-rich appearance rather than a mystical property.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
φαῖος (phaîos)
“dusky, gray, dark-colored”
Ancient Greek
Greek
φύκος (phŷkos)
“seaweed, algae”
19th Century
New Latin
Phaeophyceae
“scientific class name for brown algae”
Modern English
English
Phaeophyceae
“the brown algae”
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