Kingdom Protista

Phylum Rhodophyta - Red Algae
Most common coastal seaweeds - mostly multicellular, common in
warm waters
Chloroplasts have Chlorophyll a and phycobilins, like cyanobacteria
Absorb green, violet and blue light
Grow at greater depths than other algae
have sporic meiosis
Completely lack flagella
Body composed of interwoven filaments
An ancient group of eukaryotes
Economic importance
Some make sulfated polysaccharides like agar and carrageenan
Agar used as laboratory medium, a base for cosmetics, used in
baked goods and as a temporary preservative for meat and fish
Carrageenan used in paints, cosmetics and ice cream