Biologists, specifically phycologists, consider seaweed to be any of a large number of marine benthic algae that are multicellular, macrothallic, and thus differentiated from most algae that tend to be microscopic in size Smith, G.M. 1944. Marine Algae of the Monterey Peninsula, California. Stanford Univ., 2nd Edition.. Many phycologists prefer the term "marine macroalgae" over "seaweeds". Seaweeds are classified into brown (Phaeophyta), red (Rhodophyta) and green algae (Chlorophyta) based on their pigment composition. There are a few species of cyanobacteria however, that may also be categorized as seaweeds. Seaweeds are to be confused neither with things like seagrasses (which are vascular plants), nor actual weeds in the sense of nuisance blooms or accumulations of unwanted species — certainly, seaweeds are natural components of pristine marine ecosystems.

Structure

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Seaweeds may have an appearance that resembles non-arboreal terrestrial plants.

• thallus: the algal body
  • lamina: a flattened structure that is somewhat leaf-like
    • sorus: spore cluster
    • on Fucus -- Air bladders: float-assist organ (on blade)
    • on kelp -- floats: float-assist organ (in between lamina and stipe)
  • stipe: a stem-like structure, may be absent
  • holdfast: specialized basal structure providing attachment to the bottom

The stipe and blade are collectively known as frond.

Uses

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Seaweeds are extensively used as food by coastal peoples, particularly in Japan and Korea, but also in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Peru, the Canadian Maritimes, Scandinavia, Ireland, Wales, Philippines, and Scotland, among other places. For example, Porphyra is a red alga used in Wales to make laverbread, and in Japan dried, formed into sheets called nori which is widely used in soups, and for wrapping sushi, boiled rice stuffed with bits of raw fish, sea urchin roe, or other ingredients. Chondrus crispus (commonly known as Irish moss) is another red alga used in producing various food additives.

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Algae and Seaweed - Twitter Search

WTT: fish food: i have top fin seaweed (almost new), tetra tablets "the rich mix" and tetra veggie algae wafers extreme http://bit.ly/39dF5F
houstonfishbox (Houston Fishbox) Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:36:03 -0000
WTT: fish food: i have top fin seaweed (almost new), tetra tablets "the rich mix" and tetra veggie algae wafers extreme http://bit.ly/39dF5F
Sea vegetables/seaweed/algae are rich in minerals that help detoxify heavy metals & pesticides and alkalize an acidic environment.
jjvirgin (JJ Virgin) Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:18:43 -0000
Sea vegetables/seaweed/algae are rich in minerals that help detoxify heavy metals & pesticides and alkalize an acidic environment.
@dyllybones Seaweed, algae, and kelp hold-fasts. They are vegetarians.
lobsterback (James Lee) Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:58:46 -0000
@dyllybones Seaweed, algae, and kelp hold-fasts. They are vegetarians.

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