The Underwater Forest

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Marine Biology

~*Sea Lettuce*~

Sea Lettuce

Noun: Any of several green algae of the genus Ulva, having a membranous leaflike, irregularly shaped thallus sometimes used in salads.

         Sea lettuce is a bright green algae that grows on rocks along rocky coasts. It uses its rootlike anchors called holdfasts to attach to rocks and sand. Sea lettuce is rich in vitamins A and B. The lettuce can be used in stews and in salads.

        It is very high in iron and protein. Sea lettuce is also high in iodine, aluminum, manganese and nickel. Sea lettuce provides large amounts of dietary fiber. It actually provides 31%.

        It grows in sheets two cells thick. Sea lettuce only grows to be about 100 to 150 mm long. It usually grows during winter and seems to grow more where the water is enriched by organic waste.

        Sea Lettuce can grow in a wide range of temperature. The problem with sea lettuce is that is can layer itself and can grow to be about 2-3 feet in thickness. Once sea lettuce starts to decay is releases nitrogen back into the ocean.

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~*Kelp*~

Kelp

Noun: Any of various brown, often very large seaweeds of the order Laminariales.

Kelp usually grows in cool coastal waters. It can only grow in places where sunlight can go to the ocean floor.

Kelp has three major parts: holdfast, stipe, and blade. The holdfast acts like an anchor and attaches to the sea floor or a rocky area. The stipe connects the holdfast to the blade. The blades are the leafs that take in sunlight to make food.

Kelp is the fastest growing plant. It can grow up to 300 feet in a year! In a day kelp can grow 20 to 25 inches a day!

Kelp grows best in cool waters. The temperatures best for its growth are anywhere between 50 to 65 degrees fahrenheit.

To keep the plant afloat and able to get sunlight, the kelp has things on it called floats that fill with air and keep it up.

~*Sea Palm*~

Sea Palm

NOUN: A brown seaweed (Postelsia palmaeformis) found in the middle littoral zone along the Pacific coast of the United States, having a shape resembling a palm tree with numerous edible toothed blades that crown the tip of a long stipe.

Sea Palm is more commonly known as Dwarf Palm. Its trunk has a diameter of 5mm. It grows 5 to 8 single leaves that can reach a length of 60 cm. It is said to be a very rare plant.

Sea Palm is said to be a very delicious vegetable. It has a sweet and salty taste and looks like fettuccini. People pay a very high price for sea palm. In some places, they sell the sea palm for fifty-five dollars a pound!

Sea palm can range anywhere between 12 to 24 inches. In order to grow sea palm need full sun exposure. It can only survive in very warm climates. While growing, sea palm blooms a pale yellow flower.