Ochrophyte

The ochrophytes are is a group of mostly photosynthetic stramenopiles (heterokonts), placed either in phylum Ochrophyta or subphylum Ochrophytina.[5][6][7] Their plastid is of red algal origin.[8][7]

Quick facts: Ochrophyte, Scientific classification , Class... ▼

Ochrophyte
Dense kelp forest with understory at Partridge Point near Dave's Caves, Cape Peninsula
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Clade:	Diaphoretickes
Clade:	SAR
Clade:	Stramenopiles
Phylum:	Gyrista
Subphylum:	Ochrophytina Cavalier-Smith, 1995[1]
Classes
Olisthodiscophyceae Chrysista Limnistia Chrysophyceae Eustigmatophyceae Synchromophyceae Raphidoistia Raphidomonadea Fucistia Aurophyceae Chrysomerophyceae Chrysoparadoxophyceae Phaeosacciophyceae Phaeophyceae Schizocladiophyceae Xanthophyceae Diatomista Hypogyrista Dictyochophyceae Pinguiophyceae Khakista Bolidophyceae Bacillariophyceae (diatoms)
Synonyms
Heterokontophyta van den Hoek et al., 1978 Ochrista Cavalier-Smith, 1986[2][3] Stramenochromes Leipe et al., 1994[4]

The classification of the group is still being worked out. Originally, the ochrophytes were regarded as a phylum denominated Ochrophyta. Some authors (e.g., Cavalier-Smith) divided it into two subphyla, Phaeista Cavalier-Smith 1995 (comprising Hypogyristea and Chrysista in some classifications, or Limnista and Marista in others) and Khakista Cavalier-Smith, 2000 (comprising Bolidophyceae and diatoms).[9]^{[citation needed]} Others prefer not to use the subphyla, listing only lower taxa (e.g., Reviers, 2002, Guiry & Guiry, 2014).^{[citation needed]}

However, it is currently regarded as a subphylum inside of the phylum Gyrista, along with Pseudofungi and Bigyromonada. It contains two infraphyla: Diatomista (containing diatoms and related groups) and Chrysista (containing brown and golden algae and related groups).[7]