The heterokonts or stramenopiles are a major line of eukaryotes[1] currently containing more than 100,000 known species.[2] 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 (generallyparasitic) oomycetes, including Phytophthora of Irish potato famine infamy andPythium which causes seed rot and damping off.
The name heterokonts refers to the motile life cycle stage, in which the flagellate cells possess two differently shaped flagella.