Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "cyanophyte" suna ne da ke nufin kowane rukuni na photosynthetic, prokaryotic, da kuma galibin ƙwayoyin cuta na ruwa, wanda kuma aka sani da algae blue-green ko cyanobacteria. Ana siffanta su da ikonsu na aiwatar da photosynthesis da launin ruwan shudi-kore saboda kasancewar chlorophyll da phycobiliproteins. Wasu cyanophytes suna da ikon gyaran nitrogen, wanda ke sa su mahimmanci a cikin hawan keken halittu.