The status of Agardhiella tenera and Agardhiella baileyi (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales)

Abstract

Evidence is presented to support the placement of Agardhiella tenera in Solieria (as S. tenera comb. nov.) for the reason that a large fusion cell is present in the center of the cystocarp. Since A. tenera is the type species of the genus, Agardhiella S chmitz (1896) becomes a junior synonym of Solieria J. A gardh (1842). It is argued that A. baileyi , upon which the generic description of Agardhiella was based, is generically distinct from Solieria , and Neoagardhiella gen. nov. is proposed, with N. baileyi as the type species. Agardhiella ramosissima is also transferred into this new genus. The old observations of Solieria as a procarpial genus made by B ornet & T huret (1880) are reinforced by the present observations. This situation in the type genus of the family is contrasted with the nonprocarpial condition known in several other genera at present considered members of the Solieriaceae.