A very simple life history features carpogonia not housed in a carpogonial filament that characterize the members in the class Florideophyceae. There are no tetrasporangia and instead are replaced in some taxa by chochosporangia. There are several genera that are typical of this class. Especially interesting is Poryphridium , species of which can be found in freshwater, brackish, and marine habitats. Being one of the few freshwater forms it is often overlooked in floristic surveys.
Cells are spherical with stellate plastids, one per cell.
Some of these materials have found their way into the commercial market . Movement can be observed by cells and is thought to be by the extrusion of material from the cell surface. They are found in greenhouses and in natural areas adjacent to springs and outfalls along rock surfaces. Color can range from a brilliant pink to an olive drab. Of economic importance is Porphyra .