Red Algae

Red algae

Red algae, from the phylum Rhodophyta (from the Greek rhodos, meaning “red”), are named for their reddish color because of their pigment phycoerythrin. Despite their name, not all rhodophytes are red.

Some of them have very little phycoerythrin and appear green or bluish. Most are multicellular and vary greatly in shape; platelike, coral-like, crustlike, leathery, and feather like forms are known.

The bodies of some rhodophytes are relatively complex, characterized by a great deal of branching of their leaf like structures as well as the presence of a holdfast that resembles plant roots.