algae

al·ga   (āl'gə)    n.   pl. al·gae (-jē) Any of various chiefly aquatic, eukaryotic, photosynthetic organisms, ranging in size from single-celled forms to the giant kelp. Algae were once considered to be plants but are now classified separately because they lack true roots, stems, leaves, and embryos. [Latin, seaweed.] al'gal (āl'gəl) adj.

Main Entry: Al·gae
Pronunciation: 'al-(")jE
Function: noun plural
in some former classifications : a major group of lower plants oftenincluded in the division Thallophyta that is now commonly considered to be a heterogeneous assemblage including especially the algae

algae al·gae (āl'jē)
pl.n.
Any of various chiefly aquatic, eukaryotic, photosynthetic organisms, ranging in size from single-celled forms to the giant kelp.

alga   (āl'gə)  Pronunciation Key  Plural algae (āl'jē) Any of various green, red, or brown organisms that grow mostly in water, ranging in size from single cells to large spreading seaweeds. Like plants, algae manufacture their own food through photosynthesis and release large amounts of oxygen into the atmosphere. They also fix large amounts of carbon, which would otherwise exist in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Algae form a major component of marine plankton and are often visible as pond scum and blooms in tidal pools. Land species mostly live in moist soil and on tree trunks or rocks. Some species live in extreme environments, such as deserts, hot springs, and glaciers. Although they were once classified as plants, the algae are now considered to be protists, with the exception of the cyanobacteria, formerly called blue-green algae. The algae do not form a distinct phylogenetic group, but the word alga serves as a convenient catch-all term for various photosynthetic protist phyla, including the green algae, brown algae, and red algae.