A European Informational Website
learn more
The heterokonts or stramenopiles are a major line of eukaryotes presently containing about 10,500 known species.[1] Most are algae, ranging from the giant multicellular kelp to the unicellular diatoms, which are a primary component of plankton. Other notable members of the Stramenopila include the (generally parasitic) oomycetes, including Phytophthora of Irish potato famine fame and Pythium which causes seed rot and damping off.