Fryeella Kylin, 1931

Holotype species: Fryeella gardneri (Setchell) Kylin

Original publication and holotype designation: Kylin, H. (1931). Die Florideenordnung Rhodymeniales. Lunds Universitets Årsskrift, Ny Följd 27(11): 1-48, 8 figs, 20 pls.

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Description: Thallus with a discoid holdfast and erect or prostrate, flattened fronds sometimes with a wonderful blue iridescence, and which are regularly or irregularly dichotomously branched. Structure multiaxial, cortex of one or two layers of small cells, medulla consisting of cavities lined with one or two layers of rounded cells. Cavities separated by curved, multicellular septa visible from the exterior and filled with weak mucilage. Septa consisting of rounded cells similar to those lining the cavities, bearing several sessile secretory cells. Spermatangial plants unknown. Carpogonial branch unknown. Cystocarps ostiolate, scattered on dorsal surface, never coronate, protruding outwards, most cells forming carposporangia in a single lobe, tela arachnoidea absent. Tetrasporangia formed terminally from cortical filaments in nemathecia composed of cortical files 4-6 cells in length on one frond surface. Nemathecia not present in the area of septum formation. Spores regularly cruciately arranged. Nothing is known of the life history of Fryeella gardneri, but it is likely that it of the 'Polysiphonia-type', although Hawkes and Scagel (1986) speculated, on rather tenuous grounds, that there may be apogamous recycling in some populations. At least in some localities, plants would appear to be recruited annually (Hawkes and Scagel 1986). Hawkes (1986) selected a lectotype for Fauchea gardneri Setchell.

Information contributed by: M.D. Guiry. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2010-10-08 by M.D. Guiry.

Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Le Gall, L., Dalen, J.L. & Saunders, G.W. (2008). Phylogenetic analyses of the red algal order Rhodymeniales supports recognition of the Hymenocladiaceae fam. nov., Fryeellaceae fam. nov., and Neogastroclonium gen. nov. Journal of Phycology 44: 1556-1571.

Comments: Although the reproduction of Fryeella gardneri is incompletely known, the genus is well characterised by curved septae (easily visible, particularly in transmitted light) separating mucilage-filled cavities and the absence of modified medullary filaments in these cavities. Erect and decumbent plants grow together and Abbott and Hollenberg (1976) are of the opinion that such forms are not taxonomically distinct. The formation of reproductive structures on one surface of the frond only suggests that the primitive state is the decumbent one. Hawkes and Scagel (1986) remark that California plants have a violet-blue iridescence underwater that is lacking in plants from British Columbia and Washington. In a molecular-systematic investigation of the Rhodymeniales, Saunders and others (1999) found that Fryeella gardneri and Hymenocladiopsis crustigena formed a clade separate from other familes of the Rhodymeniales and the familial poisition of these two genera remains to be established finally. Fryeella gardneri is only found at depths of 5-50 m in the subtidal of the Pacific coast of North America from British Columbia south to Baja California (Abbott and Hollenberg 1976; Hawkes and Scagel 1986).

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Contributors
Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in CD format. These AlgaeBase descriptions are now being continually updated, and each current contributor is identified above. The PSA and AlgaeBase warmly acknowledge the generosity of all past and present contributors and particularly the work of Dr Parker.

Descriptions of chrysophyte genera were subsequently published in J. Kristiansen & H.R. Preisig (eds.). 2001. Encyclopedia of Chrysophyte Genera. Bibliotheca Phycologica 110: 1-260.

Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=42188

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 08 October 2010. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 21 November 2024