Boldia Herndon, 1964

Holotype species: Boldia erythrosiphon Herndon

Original publication and holotype designation: Herndon, W.R. (1964). Boldia: a new rhodophycean genus. American Journal of Botany 51: 575-581.

Description: Mauve-pink to reddish brown (rare olive-green), hollow, monostromatic sac or tube, 1-20 (40-75) cm long and 0.1-2.0 cm diam. Vegetative cells rectangular, 5-20 (45) µm in diam., containing several peripheral, ribbon-like chloroplasts and a large central vacuole. Secondary filaments arise as outgrowths from vegetative cells, elongating between and above vegetative cells and eventually dividing to form monospores, 5-9 µm diam. Monospores germinate developing into a prostrate, monostromatic disc or an aggregation of creeping filaments. The disc or aggregation produces a cushion-like mound of cells that functions as a perennial holdfast, producing seasonally macroscopic thalli. Sexual reproduction not observed.

Information contributed by: R.G. Sheath. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2021-11-26 by M.D. Guiry.

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

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Sheath, R.G. (2003). Red Algae. In: Freshwater Algae of North America, Ecology & Classification. (Wehr, J.D. & Sheath, R.G. Eds), pp. 197-224. San Diego: Academic Press.

Comments: Cell wall composed of cellulose and xylan fibrils with amorphous component containing galactose. Localized in scattered streams in eastern North America, extending from central Alabama (perhaps Missouri) to southern James Bay in northern Québec. Range of ecological factors: current velocity 3.71 cm s^-1, pH 6.1-8.5, specific conductance 18-290 S cm^-1, dissolved oxygen 4.5 mg 1^-1-saturation, temperature 12-25°C. In southern range often associated with snails of the family Pleuroceridae with high manganese content in the shells, appearing in late winter and usually disappearing by early summer. In northern streams largely epilithic and occurring throughout the summer. Can contribute significantly to stream primary productivity

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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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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=42905

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 26 November 2021. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 18 April 2024