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| Authority: Postels & Ruprecht |
Type species: n/a |
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| Commercial species: luetkaena (LUE) |
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| Common names: Black kelp, Bladder Kelp, Bull Kelp, Bullwhip kelp, Cabbage, Giant bull kelp, Giant Kelp, Great kelp, Horsetail Kelp, Ribbon Kelp, Sea onion, Sea Otter's Cabbage, Sea Otters, Sea Whip, Seatron, Serpent kelp |
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| Classification: Eukaryota, Phylum Heterokontophyta, Order Laminariales, Family Lessoniaceae. |
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| AlgaeBase names and species: 2 names - 1 current as of 12-2001. |
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| DiveBorneo SeaPlant Utility Rating |
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Minor food & polymer source - expansion potential |
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Agronomy & harvesting must use good environmental practices. |
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Description
Nereocystis luetkeana is the only species of this genus. Plants comprise a stipe up to 36 m long attached to the ocean floor by a holdfast composed of numerous haptera and with a single bladder at the sea surface from which branched, smooth fronds arise. Fronds can be up to 4 m long and are usually less than 20 cm. It is generally an annual plant. |
Habitat
Forms kelp forests parallel to the seacoast on rocky substrates from a depth of about 5-30 meters. Create reef habitats that support diverse flora and fauna. |
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| click images & go to sources |
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Nereocystis production
click country to go to GIS |
Tons per annum
wild harvest |
Tons per annum
cultivated |
| Canada |
2 |
0 |
| USA |
20 |
0 |
| Total |
22 |
22 |
0 |
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Production
Approximate annual production figures from recent years are as above. |
Biology & Agronomy
Wild harvest from carefully managed beds. |
Chemistry
Contains alginates. |
Processing
We have several monographs in progress covering analytical procedures post-harvest treatment and process technology. Check the processing index for available web pages and monographs. |
Products, Uses & Applications
Source of alginates. |
| List of species' uses and community affiliations |
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| Genus |
GenID |
SpID |
Species |
Uses |
Communities |
| Nereocystis |
NR |
LUE |
luetkaena |
FA, FI, FF, IA, PA |
AI, BP |
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| click to relevant uses or communities on the index/legend table below>>> |
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 to uses to communities  |
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Nereocystis is most strongly associated with the Agri-Industry and Biopolymer communities. |
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