chrysophyte

chrysophyte [kris-uh-fahyt] Word Origin noun

1. any algae of the phylum Chrysophyta, comprising the yellow-green algae, golden-brown algae, and diatoms, distinguished by having in various proportions the three pigment groups chlorophyll (green), carotene (yellow), and xanthophyll (brown), and storing food reserves as oil rather than starch.

Origin of chrysophyte 1955–60; New Latin Chrysophyta; see chryso-, -phyte