How many are there? about 265 genera with about 2000 species.
	How old are they?  probably not more than 200 million years old with some at 65 myo.
	Where are brown algae found? 1 % of species in freshwater habitats. 99 % are marine species. In tropical areas, a few brown algal species can produce substantial biomass.

	How are their cells organized? Uninucleate organization throughout all cells.
	What pigments do they possess? Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll c and Fucoxanthin.
	How is the chloroplast constructed? Thylakoids in stacks of 3 to 6 forming grana.  Chloroplast is enclosed by double unit membrane. Chloroplast enclosed by an additional two layer membrane system (Chloroplastic Endoplasmic Reticulum or CER). This additional membrane system in continuous w/ ER of cell.
	What storage product is made?  Laminarin, a beta 1,3 linked glucan polymer. Mannitol, a sugar alcohol.
	Cell wall features? Cellulose fibrils embedded in an amorphous matrix of polysaccharide. The polysaccharide is predominantly alginate.
	Cell and thallus complexity?  NO unicells exist as free living adults. All are multicellular complex thalli. These macrophtyes typically have swimming unicells as life-history components (male gametes or spores). Check out this diversity

Simple to increasingly complex (Order Ectocarpales) with intermediate life history.

	Ectocarpus
	Hincksia

All of these genera reproduce via the Sporic Meiosis Life History.

Increasingly complex adult morphologies (Order Dictyotales) and intermediate life history

	Dictyota
	Dictyopteris

All of these genera reproduce via the Sporic Meiosis Life History

Most complex adult morphology (Order Fucales) and most advanced life history

	Sargassum
	Turbinaria

All of these genera reproduce via the Gametic Meiosis Life History