Laminaria
Encyclopedia
Laminaria is a genus
of 31 species
of brown algae
(Phaeophyceae), all sharing the common name "kelp
". This economically important genus is characterized by long, leathery laminae and relatively large size. Some species are referred to by the common name Devil's apron, due to their shape, or sea colander, due to the perforations present on the lamina
. It is found in the north Atlantic Ocean
and the northern Pacific Ocean
at depths from 8 to 30 m (26.2 to 98.4 ft) (exceptionally to 120 m (393.7 ft) in the warmer waters of the Mediterranean Sea
and off Brazil
).
The name also refers to the use of this algae to dilate the cervix when induction of pregnancy is necessary. It serves to absorb moisture and then expand, subsequently expanding the cervix.
The greater proportion of commercial cultivation is for algin, iodine
and mannitol
, which are used in a range of industrial applications. In South Korea
it is processed into a sweetmeat known as laminaria jelly. The largest producer of kelp products is China
.
According to C.Michael Hogan the life cycle of the genus involves a diploid generational system.
Laminaria japonica (J. E. Areschoug — Japón) is now regarded as a synonym of Saccharina japonica
and Laminaria saccharina is now classified as Saccharina latissima.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of 31 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of 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...
(Phaeophyceae), all sharing the common name "kelp
Kelp
Kelps are large seaweeds belonging to the brown algae in the order Laminariales. There are about 30 different genera....
". This economically important genus is characterized by long, leathery laminae and relatively large size. Some species are referred to by the common name Devil's apron, due to their shape, or sea colander, due to the perforations present on the 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....
. It is found in the north Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and the northern Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
at depths from 8 to 30 m (26.2 to 98.4 ft) (exceptionally to 120 m (393.7 ft) in the warmer waters of the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
and off Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
).
The name also refers to the use of this algae to dilate the cervix when induction of pregnancy is necessary. It serves to absorb moisture and then expand, subsequently expanding the cervix.
The greater proportion of commercial cultivation is for algin, iodine
Iodine
Iodine is a chemical element with the symbol I and atomic number 53. The name is pronounced , , or . The name is from the , meaning violet or purple, due to the color of elemental iodine vapor....
and mannitol
Mannitol
Mannitol is a white, crystalline organic compound with the formula . This polyol is used as an osmotic diuretic agent and a weak renal vasodilator...
, which are used in a range of industrial applications. In South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
it is processed into a sweetmeat known as laminaria jelly. The largest producer of kelp products is China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
According to C.Michael Hogan the life cycle of the genus involves a diploid generational system.
Laminaria japonica (J. E. Areschoug — Japón) is now regarded as a synonym of Saccharina japonica
Saccharina japonica
Saccharina japonica is a marine species of Phaeophyceae , a type of kelp or seaweed, that is extensively cultivated in China, Japan and Korea....
and Laminaria saccharina is now classified as Saccharina latissima.
Species
- Laminaria abyssalis A.B. Joly & E.C. Oliveira — Southamerican Atlantic
- Laminaria agardhii Kjellman — Atlántico de Nortemérica
- Laminaria appressirhiza J. E. Petrov & V. B. Vozzhinskaya
- Laminaria brasiliensis A. B. Loly & E. C. Oliveira
- Laminaria brongardiana Postels & Ruprecht
- Laminaria bulbosa J. V. Lamouroux
- Laminaria bullata Kjellman
- Laminaria complanata (Setchell & N. L. Garder) Muenscher
- Laminaria digitataLaminaria digitataLaminaria digitata is a large brown alga in the family Laminariaceae, also known by the common name Oarweed. It is found in the sublittoral zone of the northern Atlantic Ocean.-Description:...
(Hudson) J. V. Lamouroux - Laminaria ephemera Setchell — Pacific of North America: From Vancouver to California
- Laminaria farlowii Setchell — Coast of the North American Pacific
- Laminaria groenlandica — British Columbia
- Laminaria hyperboreaLaminaria hyperboreaLaminaria hyperborea is a species of large brown alga, a kelp in the family Laminariaceae, also known by the common names of tangle and cuvie. It is found in the sublittoral zone of the northern Atlantic Ocean. A variety, Laminaria hyperborea f...
(Gunnerus) Foslie — North east Atlantic, Baltic Sea and North Sea. - Laminaria inclinatorhiza J. Petrov & V. Vozzhinskaya
- Laminaria multiplicata J. Petrov & M. Suchovejeva
- Laminaria nigripes J. Agardh
- Laminaria ochroleuca Bachelot de la Pylaie
- Laminaria pallida Greville — South Africa, Indian Ocean, Canary Islands and de Tristán da Cunha
- Laminaria platymeris Bachelot de la Pylaie
- Laminaria rodriguezii Barnet
- Laminaria ruprechtii (Areschoug) Setchell
- Laminaria sachalinensis (Miyabe) Miyabe
- Laminaria setchellii P. C. Silva
- Laminaria sinclairii (Harvey ex J. D. Hooker & Harvey) Farlow, Anderson & Eaton — North AmericanNorth AmericanNorth American generally refers to an entity, people, group, or attribute of North America, especially of the United States and Canada together.-Culture:*North American English, a collective term used to describe American English and Canadian English...
Pacific coast - Laminaria solidugula J. Agardh
- Laminaria yezoensis Miyabe
External links
- Laminaria at AlgaeBaseAlgaeBaseAlgaeBase is a global species database of information on all groups of algae, as well as one group of flowering plants, the sea-grasses.AlgaeBase evolved from Michael Guiry's seaweed website, and has grown into a database of algae from throughout the world, and in freshwater, terrestrial, and...