What does pheatophytes mean?

Pheophytes, commonly known as brown algae, are a group of primarily marine plants belonging to the phylum Phaeophyta. They are characterized by their brown or olive-green color, which comes from the presence of chlorophyll a and c, along with fucoxanthin. Brown algae play significant ecological roles in coastal environments and include species like kelp, which provide habitat and food for various marine organisms. They are also studied for their potential uses in food, agriculture, and biotechnology.