n. Any of numerous mostly aquatic organisms in the group Heterokonta, having zoospores or other swimming cells usually with a pair of flagella, one of which has brush-like extensions, and whose photosynthetic members have a distinctive form of chlorophyll. Heterokonts include the brown algae, chrysophytes, diatoms, and oomycetes. Also called stramenopile. [New Latin Heterokonta, taxon name : Greek hetero-, hetero- + Greek kontos, punting pole, goad (in reference to the pair of flagella); see kent- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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