There are about 1500 species enlisted in phaeophyceae. The members of Phaeophyceae are popularly called brown algae. The brown colour of this group of algae is due to the possession of a pigment called fucoxanthin. Fritsch (1945) divided the whole brown algae in to 9 orders: Ectocarpales, Tilopteridales, Cutleriales, Sporochnales, Desmarestiales, Laminariales, Sphacelariales, Dicotyotales and Fucales.
1. Ectocarpales
      Examples: Ectocarpus, Punctaria, Iyengaria, Holothrix
2.Tilopteridales
    Example: Tilopteris
3. Cutleriales
    Example: Cutleria
4. Sporochnales
    Example: Sporochnus
5. Desmarestiales
    Example: Desmarestia
6. Laminariales
    Examples: Alaria, Chorda, Macrocystis, Laminaria
7. Sphacelariales
    Examples: Sphacelaria, Halopteris
8. Dicotyotales
   Examples: Dicotyota, Hormosira, Ascoseria, Cystophora
9. Fucales
    Examples: Sargassum, Fucus