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
