What is "phycology"

Phycology \Phy*col"o*gy\, n. [Gr. ? seaweed + -logy.] The science of alg[ae], or seaweeds; algology.

"study of seaweeds," 1847, from phyco- + -logy. Related: Phycological; phycologist.

n. The scientific study of algae.

Phycology (from Greek , phykos, "seaweed"; and , -logia) is the scientific study of algae. Also known as algology, phycology is a branch of life science and often is regarded as a subdiscipline of botany.

Algae are important as primary producers in aquatic ecosystems. Most algae are eukaryotic, photosynthetic organisms that live in a wet environment. They are distinguished from the higher plants by a lack of true roots, stems or leaves. They do not flower. Many species are single-celled and microscopic (including phytoplankton and other microalgae); many others are multicellular to one degree or another, some of these growing to large size (for example, seaweeds such as kelp and Sargassum).

Phycology includes the study of prokaryotic forms known as blue-green algae or cyanobacteria. A number of microscopic algae also occur as symbionts in lichens.