algaféle

Algaféle is an informal descriptor used to refer to organisms that resemble algae in form, function, or life cycle. It is not a formal taxonomic group, and there is no single diagnostic set of characters that define it. In practice, algaféle can include diverse lineages, such as true photosynthetic eukaryotes commonly classified as algae (various groups within green, brown, and red algae and related protists), as well as algae-like organisms outside strict algal lineages, such as certain cyanobacteria and algal-like protists. The common thread is a resemblance to algae: typically photosynthetic or life cycles that include gelatinous or filamentous thalli, simple multicellularity, or colonial organization.

Because algaféle is an informal concept, its boundaries vary with context. Taxonomic classification places organisms in established groups (Archaeplastida, Chromista, Bacteria, Protista, etc.), while the algaféle label remains a descriptive convenience rather than a rank.

Ecologically, algaféle organisms often function as primary producers in aquatic ecosystems, contributing to carbon fixation and forming the base of food webs. They inhabit marine and freshwater habitats, damp soils, and biofilms; some forms also occur in brackish environments. Their presence can reflect nutrient availability and water quality.

In usage, algaféle is more common in Hungarian-language literature and in historical or descriptive texts of phycology and microbiology. It is less common as a formal term in modern taxonomy.

See also: algae, cyanobacteria, protists, photosynthesis, phycology.