Part A | 6.3
78 Part A Marine Flora and Fauna
antibacterial [6.96, 218–220], anticoagulant [6.221],
antifungal [6.217], antiprotozoal [6.123, 218], larvicidal [6.222], analgesic [6.218], anticancer and antiviral [6.217, 218] activity.
Ulva compressa Linnaeus
Synonym. Enteromorpha compressa (Linnaeus) Nees.
Common Names. Green nori, Plat darmwier.
Description. U. compressa is a green seaweed that can
have one of two different growth forms. The first is
a flat, narrow sheet with ruffled edges, and the second
form (often referred to as Enteromorpha compressa) is
a hollow tube of tissue, rounded at the top. In both
forms the sheets of tissue are very thin; in fact they are
exactly one cell thick. Several blades or tubes arise from
a common attachment point and can grow up to 200 mm
long. U. compressa is a shallow water species and is often found in tide pools or on rocks in the intertidal and
shallow infra-littoral up to 3 m deep. As a common tidepool species, U. compressa is able to withstand great
swings in salinity, temperature, and pH [6.223, 224].
Habitat. Marine and estuarine species, rock pools and
sandy rocks, particularly in places with widely varying
salinities such as upper-shore species.
Distribution. U. compressa is widely distributed,
found commonly on the NE Atlantic coasts, Pacific
coast of North America, throughout the Mediterranean,
and also in Africa and Australia.
Uses and Compounds. U. compressa, in the same
family as sea lettuce is a commonly eaten as a sea
vegetable, used fresh or dried for both human and
animal consumption for its high nutrient levels and
good taste; is used dried in cooking, particularly with
eggs [6.109, 223, 224]. This seaweed is also utilized
as fertilizer to introduce a wide range of minerals to
the soil. Many benefits have been associated with U.
compressa consumption such as cytotoxic [6.225], antimicrobial [6.96, 171, 224, 226–230], antiviral [6.224],
and antioxidant [6.224, 225, 231–234] properties. Extracts of U. compressa are also added to cosmetics
products for a soothing quality that reduces skin itchiness and tautness [6.224].
Ulva fasciata Delile
Description. Thalli thin, sheet-like, up to 50 cm long,
consisting of wide blades, 10 – 15 cm wide at base, taFig. 6.10 Ulva intestinalis specimens
pering upward to less that 2:5 cm wide at tip. Basally
broadened, but the upper portions divided deeply into
many ribbon like segments; margins smooth, often undulate. Holdfast is small without dark rhizoids. Bright
grass-green to dark green, gold at margins when reproductive, may be colorless when stressed [6.32, 235].
Habitat. U. fasciata is a common species in the intertidal to shallow infra-littoral, often found in tide pools.
This species is a quick colonizer and is able to grow
very quickly in the right conditions, often reaching
bloom levels in the presence of nutrient run-off and
fresh water input [6.236].
Distribution. U. fasciata has a worldwide distribution in temperate and tropical waters: NE Atlantic;
Mediterranean; Caribbean; West coast South Africa;
SW Atlantic; entire Pacific; Indiana Ocean; Australia,
New Zealand.
Uses and Compounds. U. fasciata is a popular edible seaweed in many areas where it grows, such as
Hawaii where it is known as limu palahalala. U. fasciata has a very fine texture and lovely fresh taste
and is often chopped into salads or used as a relish,
though it can also be cooked and used in soups [6.236].
Green algae extracts are also very nutrient rich and
78 Part A Marine Flora and Fauna
antibacterial [6.96, 218–220], anticoagulant [6.221],
antifungal [6.217], antiprotozoal [6.123, 218], larvicidal [6.222], analgesic [6.218], anticancer and antiviral [6.217, 218] activity.
Ulva compressa Linnaeus
Synonym. Enteromorpha compressa (Linnaeus) Nees.
Common Names. Green nori, Plat darmwier.
Description. U. compressa is a green seaweed that can
have one of two different growth forms. The first is
a flat, narrow sheet with ruffled edges, and the second
form (often referred to as Enteromorpha compressa) is
a hollow tube of tissue, rounded at the top. In both
forms the sheets of tissue are very thin; in fact they are
exactly one cell thick. Several blades or tubes arise from
a common attachment point and can grow up to 200 mm
long. U. compressa is a shallow water species and is often found in tide pools or on rocks in the intertidal and
shallow infra-littoral up to 3 m deep. As a common tidepool species, U. compressa is able to withstand great
swings in salinity, temperature, and pH [6.223, 224].
Habitat. Marine and estuarine species, rock pools and
sandy rocks, particularly in places with widely varying
salinities such as upper-shore species.
Distribution. U. compressa is widely distributed,
found commonly on the NE Atlantic coasts, Pacific
coast of North America, throughout the Mediterranean,
and also in Africa and Australia.
Uses and Compounds. U. compressa, in the same
family as sea lettuce is a commonly eaten as a sea
vegetable, used fresh or dried for both human and
animal consumption for its high nutrient levels and
good taste; is used dried in cooking, particularly with
eggs [6.109, 223, 224]. This seaweed is also utilized
as fertilizer to introduce a wide range of minerals to
the soil. Many benefits have been associated with U.
compressa consumption such as cytotoxic [6.225], antimicrobial [6.96, 171, 224, 226–230], antiviral [6.224],
and antioxidant [6.224, 225, 231–234] properties. Extracts of U. compressa are also added to cosmetics
products for a soothing quality that reduces skin itchiness and tautness [6.224].
Ulva fasciata Delile
Description. Thalli thin, sheet-like, up to 50 cm long,
consisting of wide blades, 10 – 15 cm wide at base, taFig. 6.10 Ulva intestinalis specimens
pering upward to less that 2:5 cm wide at tip. Basally
broadened, but the upper portions divided deeply into
many ribbon like segments; margins smooth, often undulate. Holdfast is small without dark rhizoids. Bright
grass-green to dark green, gold at margins when reproductive, may be colorless when stressed [6.32, 235].
Habitat. U. fasciata is a common species in the intertidal to shallow infra-littoral, often found in tide pools.
This species is a quick colonizer and is able to grow
very quickly in the right conditions, often reaching
bloom levels in the presence of nutrient run-off and
fresh water input [6.236].
Distribution. U. fasciata has a worldwide distribution in temperate and tropical waters: NE Atlantic;
Mediterranean; Caribbean; West coast South Africa;
SW Atlantic; entire Pacific; Indiana Ocean; Australia,
New Zealand.
Uses and Compounds. U. fasciata is a popular edible seaweed in many areas where it grows, such as
Hawaii where it is known as limu palahalala. U. fasciata has a very fine texture and lovely fresh taste
and is often chopped into salads or used as a relish,
though it can also be cooked and used in soups [6.236].
Green algae extracts are also very nutrient rich and