Algae

Plant Characteristics
Origin:	✈	?

Cultivation

Exposure:	☼	?"?" is not in the list (sun, part-sun, shade, unknown) of allowed values for the "Exposure" property.
Water:	◍	?"?" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property.

Scientific Names

The lineage of algae according to Thomas Cavallier-Smith. The three supergroups Archaeplastida, Chromalveolata and Cabozoa of eukaryotic algae are denoted to reflect the table below. Endosymbiotic events are noted by dotted lines.

Algae (singular alga) encompass several groups of relatively simple, eukaryotic, living aquatic organisms that capture light energy through photosynthesis, using it to convert inorganic substances into organic matter.^wp.

Algae are photosynthetic organisms that occur in most habitats. Algae varies from small, single-celled forms to complex multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length^wp.

Cultivation

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Propagation

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Pests and diseases

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Varieties

There are far too many varieties to list, with thousands known. Here are some which stand out.

Arthrospira platensis, commercially cultivated as a nutritional supplement, is a Cyanobacteria (known as blue-green algae), and has been hailed by some as a superfood.[1]
Chlorella (a green algae), commercially cultivated as a nutritional supplement^wp.
Dunaliella (Dunaliella salina), commercially cultivated as a nutritional supplement, is high in beta-carotene and is used in vitamin C supplements^wp.
Fat choy (which is actually a cyanobacterium), popular in China as a "vegetable".
Palmaria palmata (Rhodymenia palmata, common name: dulse). [2] A red alga which is dried and may be bought in shops in Ireland. It is eaten raw, fresh or dried, or cooked like spinach.
Durvillaea antarctica [3] is eaten in Chile, common name: cochayuyo. [4]
Porphyra (common name: purple laver), is also collected and eaten in many ways around the world.
Chondrus crispus, (probably confused with Mastocarpus stellatus, common name: Irish moss), is used as "carrageen" for the stiffening of milk and dairy products, such as ice-cream.
Ulva lactuca (common name: sea lettuce), added to soups or used in salads in Scotland.
Alaria esculenta (common name: dabberlocks), is used either fresh or cooked.
Atractophora hypnoides P.L.Crouan and H.M.Crouan (red algae)
Ascophyllum nodosum
Charales (green algae)
Chondrus crispus
Codium
Fucus
Ulva lactuca
Laminaria
Lemanea
Macrocystis
Mastocarpus stellatus
Pelvetia canaliculata
Palmaria palmata
Porphyra

Gallery

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Seaweed is used as a fertiliser
A seaweed (Laurencia) up close: the "branches" are multicellular and only about 1 mm thick. Much smaller algae are seen growing attached to the structure extending upwards in the lower right quarter
Algal blooms can present problems for ecosystems and human society
photo 4