What is "florideae"

Florideae \Flo*rid"e*[ae]\, n. pl. [NL., from L. flos, floris, a flower.] (Bot.) A subclass of alg[ae] including all the red or purplish seaweeds; the Rhodosperme[ae] of many authors; -- so called from the rosy or florid color of most of the species.

Rhodosperm \Rho"do*sperm\, n. [Gr. "ro`don the rose + spe`rma a seed.] (Bot.) Any seaweed with red spores.

Note: As the name of a subclass, Rhodosperms, or Rhodosperme[ae], is synonymous with Floride[ae] (which see.)

Florideophyceae, demoted to subclass Florideae in some classification systems, is a class of red algae. It is sometimes merged with the Bangiophyceae into the Rhodophyceae, leaving the subclass Florideae in use. They were once thought to be the only algae to bear pit connections, but these have since been found in the filamentous stage of the Bangiaceae.

"Florideophyceae" is still used by some authorities.

Once thought only to exhibit apical growth, some genera grow by intercalary growth. Most, but not all, genera have three phases to the life cycle.