Frondose

Frondosity is significant mainly for distinguishing particular types of macroscopic algae, and in paleobotany and paleontology, by analyzing features present in fossil biota.

Large frondose algae play an important role in the creation and functioning of healthy ecosystems from kelp forests to similar habitats.

[1] Yet, in coral reefs, frondose seaweed can be recognized as harmful due to the link between excessive blooms and coastal eutrophication.

[citation needed] Frondose fossils are the longest studied of any Ediacaran remains, but, despite this, their affinities and biology are amongst the most controversial, ranging from animal to protist to plant or stem fungi.

[5] Discoidal fossils had been classified as cnidarian medusae before being redefined as holdfasts of frondose organisms, that is, the roots or stalks that held them to the sea bed.