Seaweed Flora of the European North Atlantic and Mediterranean 6.3 Seaweeds Biodiversity and Potential 69
Part A | 6.3
etatively from the smallest fragments [6.25, 26]. The extracts of this seaweed have antibacterial [6.27–29], antifungal [6.29], anticancer [6.30], and cardiotonic [6.26]
activity.
Bryopsis plumosa (Hudson) C. Agardh
Description. B. plumosa is a small, feathery species
of green seaweed (Fig. 6.2). The thalli are erect,
feather-like, and may reach up to 15 cm in height.
It is easily recognized by its delicate branches. All
branches are regularly arranged in two rows on opposite sides of the central filament. The lengths of
the branches decrease gradually from the base of the
plant. It is usually dark to mid-green in color [6.31,
32].
Common Names. Evenly branched mossy feather
weed; stoneworts.
Habitat. Not uncommon; in low littoral rock pools
and in the sublittoral. Is an epilithic species that is usually found in a deep lower shore pool or subtidally in
both sheltered and well-exposed habitats.
Distribution. NE Atlantic (Scandinavia to Mauretania); Mediterranean, Caribbean; SW Atlantic; Indian
Ocean; NW Pacific (Japan, China); NE Pacific (Alaska,
British Columbia); SE Pacific (Chile); Indo-Pacific
(Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia); Pacific Islands; Australia, New Zealand.
Uses and Compounds. Produces lectins with biological activity [6.23]; present antioxidant [6.33] and
antimicrobial [6.34] activity, medicinal and, pharmaceutical uses [6.35].
Caulerpa cupressoides (Vahl) C. Agardh
Description. Erect fronds arise from stolons of up to
several diameters in length, anchored to the substratum
by rhizoidal structures. Fronds are usually rich forked
toward the apex, and at base they are naked (usually
three) rows of rounded or flattened, ovoidal to conically pointed, short branchlets with a distinctly pointed
tip [6.32, 36].
Habitat. On rocks in the tidal zone at depths of 40 m
depth.
Distribution. NE
Atlantic
(Canary
Islands);
Caribbean; NW Pacific (Japan, China); West Pacific
(Philippines, Indonesia); Pacific Islands; Australia.
Uses and Compounds. This seaweed is reported
to be edible, to have antibacterial [6.37–40], antifungal, antioxidant [6.41], anticoagulant [6.41, 42],
analgesic [6.43, 44] anti-inflammatory [6.43, 44], and
antithrombotic [6.45] properties, and used to treat
high blood pressure. However, some Caulerpa species
produce toxins to protect themselves from browsing fish. This also makes them toxic to humans [6.36].
Caulerpa peltata J.V. Lamouroux
Common Name. Big parasol green seaweed.
Description. This seaweed has structures that look
like fleshy umbrellas, with a thick circular portion
(about 11:5 cm across) on a little stalk. These little
umbrellas emerge along the length of a stem that creeps
over the surface; bright yellowish-green to bluish-green
color [6.32, 46].
Habitat. Found on shady rocks or dead corals in infralittoral zones along moderately wave-exposed shorelines. Caulerpa peltata grows in tide pools, on lower
intertidal coral reefs covered with sand or on soft
muddy.
Distribution. Widely distributed in tropical seas; Atlantic Islands.
Uses and Compounds. This seaweed was reported
to be edible and used as medicine for its antifungal properties and has ability to lower blood pressure [6.46–48], it is also reported to have larvicidal [6.49, 50], antiplasmodial [6.51], citotoxic [6.52],
immunomodulatory [6.53], antioxidant [6.52], antimicrobial [6.40, 54], and anticoagulant [6.55] properties. This species was evaluated for producing
biodiesel [6.56].
Caulerpa prolifera (Forsskål) J.V. Lamouroux
Description. Fronds leafy, flat, with a distinct slender
stipe and entire margins, at times undulating, oval to
longitudinal, spatula-shaped or linear oblong, tapering
toward the base, at the apex also narrowing but bluntly
rounded (Fig. 6.3). Occasionally, more of these darkgreen photosynthetic organs emerge from the stipes as
well as from the margins or surfaces of the blades.
The sparsely branching, relatively thin (12 mm) but
wiry stolons are widely spread out, often extensive
areas colonizing in this way; rhizoids in intervals of
0:52 cm [6.32].
Part A | 6.3
etatively from the smallest fragments [6.25, 26]. The extracts of this seaweed have antibacterial [6.27–29], antifungal [6.29], anticancer [6.30], and cardiotonic [6.26]
activity.
Bryopsis plumosa (Hudson) C. Agardh
Description. B. plumosa is a small, feathery species
of green seaweed (Fig. 6.2). The thalli are erect,
feather-like, and may reach up to 15 cm in height.
It is easily recognized by its delicate branches. All
branches are regularly arranged in two rows on opposite sides of the central filament. The lengths of
the branches decrease gradually from the base of the
plant. It is usually dark to mid-green in color [6.31,
32].
Common Names. Evenly branched mossy feather
weed; stoneworts.
Habitat. Not uncommon; in low littoral rock pools
and in the sublittoral. Is an epilithic species that is usually found in a deep lower shore pool or subtidally in
both sheltered and well-exposed habitats.
Distribution. NE Atlantic (Scandinavia to Mauretania); Mediterranean, Caribbean; SW Atlantic; Indian
Ocean; NW Pacific (Japan, China); NE Pacific (Alaska,
British Columbia); SE Pacific (Chile); Indo-Pacific
(Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia); Pacific Islands; Australia, New Zealand.
Uses and Compounds. Produces lectins with biological activity [6.23]; present antioxidant [6.33] and
antimicrobial [6.34] activity, medicinal and, pharmaceutical uses [6.35].
Caulerpa cupressoides (Vahl) C. Agardh
Description. Erect fronds arise from stolons of up to
several diameters in length, anchored to the substratum
by rhizoidal structures. Fronds are usually rich forked
toward the apex, and at base they are naked (usually
three) rows of rounded or flattened, ovoidal to conically pointed, short branchlets with a distinctly pointed
tip [6.32, 36].
Habitat. On rocks in the tidal zone at depths of 40 m
depth.
Distribution. NE
Atlantic
(Canary
Islands);
Caribbean; NW Pacific (Japan, China); West Pacific
(Philippines, Indonesia); Pacific Islands; Australia.
Uses and Compounds. This seaweed is reported
to be edible, to have antibacterial [6.37–40], antifungal, antioxidant [6.41], anticoagulant [6.41, 42],
analgesic [6.43, 44] anti-inflammatory [6.43, 44], and
antithrombotic [6.45] properties, and used to treat
high blood pressure. However, some Caulerpa species
produce toxins to protect themselves from browsing fish. This also makes them toxic to humans [6.36].
Caulerpa peltata J.V. Lamouroux
Common Name. Big parasol green seaweed.
Description. This seaweed has structures that look
like fleshy umbrellas, with a thick circular portion
(about 11:5 cm across) on a little stalk. These little
umbrellas emerge along the length of a stem that creeps
over the surface; bright yellowish-green to bluish-green
color [6.32, 46].
Habitat. Found on shady rocks or dead corals in infralittoral zones along moderately wave-exposed shorelines. Caulerpa peltata grows in tide pools, on lower
intertidal coral reefs covered with sand or on soft
muddy.
Distribution. Widely distributed in tropical seas; Atlantic Islands.
Uses and Compounds. This seaweed was reported
to be edible and used as medicine for its antifungal properties and has ability to lower blood pressure [6.46–48], it is also reported to have larvicidal [6.49, 50], antiplasmodial [6.51], citotoxic [6.52],
immunomodulatory [6.53], antioxidant [6.52], antimicrobial [6.40, 54], and anticoagulant [6.55] properties. This species was evaluated for producing
biodiesel [6.56].
Caulerpa prolifera (Forsskål) J.V. Lamouroux
Description. Fronds leafy, flat, with a distinct slender
stipe and entire margins, at times undulating, oval to
longitudinal, spatula-shaped or linear oblong, tapering
toward the base, at the apex also narrowing but bluntly
rounded (Fig. 6.3). Occasionally, more of these darkgreen photosynthetic organs emerge from the stipes as
well as from the margins or surfaces of the blades.
The sparsely branching, relatively thin (12 mm) but
wiry stolons are widely spread out, often extensive
areas colonizing in this way; rhizoids in intervals of
0:52 cm [6.32].