Seaweed

Kelp (short and seamanship: Tang ) generally algae on the seabed, which are multicellular, have with the naked eye visible thalli. This means that these macro-algae or macroalgae limits on the microalgae, which are predominantly unicellular or merely achieve microscopic size and cotton-like structures can form from thin threads. Kelp can be found under the green algae, red algae and brown algae. Some cyanobacteria can also be referred to as seaweed.

Structure

Kelp may resemble herbaceous land plants.

• Thallus: the algal body Wedel ( Phylloid ): a flat structure that resembles leaves. Sorus: a bunch of spores
• Float: gas-filled organs between leaf and stems that support the floating in water

Use

Kelp is used by people on the coasts as an important food source. These mainly include Japan, but also Korea, Peru and Ireland and the Atlantic coast of Canada. For example, nori used to wrap sushi rolls.

Seaweed is also used for the production of a wide range of carbohydrate alginate, as well as for the production of fertilizer. Use was formerly the kelp as a building material for insulation of walls and roof cover (eg, on the Danish island of Læsø ) and until after the Second World War as a filling material for upholstered furniture.

Kelp is also known for its extremely high content of iodine of up to 6,000 milligrams per kg in dry weight ( the Jodtagesbedarf is 200 micrograms), which can easily lead to a strong Jodüberversorgung with uncontrolled consumption.

Dried seaweed is one of the cadmium- rich foods.

The Israeli biotechnology company BioLineRx has a seaweed -based gel developed which can be used for the treatment of heart attacks for protection of the heart muscle tissue.

For agriculture, a plant tonic of seaweed is made.