Algae ( or ; singular
alga ) is an informal term for a large, diverse group of
eukaryotes that are not necessarily closely related and are thus
polyphyletic. Included
organisms range from
unicellular genera, such as
Chlorella and the
diatoms, to
multicellular forms, such as the
giant kelp, a large
brown alga that may grow up to 50 meters in length. Most are aquatic and
autotrophic and lack many of the distinct cell and tissue types, such as
stomata,
xylem and
phloem, that are found in
land plants. The largest and most complex marine algae are called
seaweeds, while the most complex freshwater forms are the
Charophyta, a
division of green algae that includes, for example,
Spirogyra and the
stoneworts.