Fucales
Encyclopedia
Fucales is an order
in the brown algae
(class Phaeophyceae). Members of this order are fucoids. The list of families (see box at right) in Fucales, as well as additional taxonomic information on algae, is publicly accessible at Algaebase. http://www.algaebase.org
The Class Phaeophyceae is included within the Division Heterokontophyta. This name comes from the Greek word phaios meaning "brown" and phyton meaning plant. They include some of the largest plants in the sea, some however are small and fine in structure.
seaweed
s and the members of the order have the typical seaweed construction: a holdfast
, stipe
and lamina
. The lamina is often much branched and may include gas filled bladders. Growth is by division of the apical cells.
They are oogamous where there is fusion between the small male gamete and the large female gamete.
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
in the brown algae
Brown algae
The Phaeophyceae or brown algae , is a large group of mostly marine multicellular algae, including many seaweeds of colder Northern Hemisphere waters. They play an important role in marine environments, both as food and for the habitats they form...
(class Phaeophyceae). Members of this order are fucoids. The list of families (see box at right) in Fucales, as well as additional taxonomic information on algae, is publicly accessible at Algaebase. http://www.algaebase.org
The Class Phaeophyceae is included within the Division Heterokontophyta. This name comes from the Greek word phaios meaning "brown" and phyton meaning plant. They include some of the largest plants in the sea, some however are small and fine in structure.
Classification
The Fucales include some of the more common littoralLittoral
The littoral zone is that part of a sea, lake or river that is close to the shore. In coastal environments the littoral zone extends from the high water mark, which is rarely inundated, to shoreline areas that are permanently submerged. It always includes this intertidal zone and is often used to...
seaweed
Seaweed
Seaweed is a loose, colloquial term encompassing macroscopic, multicellular, benthic marine algae. The term includes some members of the red, brown and green algae...
s and the members of the order have the typical seaweed construction: a holdfast
Holdfast
A holdfast is a root-like structure that anchors aquatic sessile organisms, such as seaweed, other sessile algae, stalked crinoids, benthic cnidarians, and sponges, to the substrate. ...
, stipe
Stipe (botany)
In botany, a stipe is a stalk that supports some other structure. The precise meaning is different depending on which taxonomic group is being described....
and lamina
Lamina (algae)
A Lamina in the algae is a generally flattened structure which typically forms the principal bulk of macroscopic plants. It is often developed into specialised organs such as flotation bladders and reproductive organs....
. The lamina is often much branched and may include gas filled bladders. Growth is by division of the apical cells.
They are oogamous where there is fusion between the small male gamete and the large female gamete.
Further reading
- Fletcher, R.L.1987. Seaweeds of the British Isles. Volume 3 , Part 1. British Museum (Natural History), London. ISBN 0 565 00992 3