FRIKKIELLA GEN-NOV (DELESSERIACEAE, RHODOPHYTA) FROM BERMUDA AND THE CARIBBEAN SEA

Frikkiella, based on F. searlesii sp. nov, is recognized as a new genu s in the red algal family Delesseriaceae. Frikkiella pseudoprostrata c omb. nov. (= Branchioglossum pseudoprostratum) is also assigned to thi s genus. The former species occurs in deep water off Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and Bermuda, and the latter species is also known from deep w ater off Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and Guadeloupe (French West Indies) . Frikkiella is separated from Branchioglossum by its branch initiatio n from random marginal cells and by production of third-order rows fro m only a few cells of the second-order rows. The two species differ in apical organization, shape of the tetrasporangiate sorus; and appeara nce of the cells of the alae. Male, female, and tetrasporangiate plant s have been observed in F. searlesii; only tetrasporangiate plants are known in F. pseudoprostrata.