(TSVN) – Red algae are photoautotrophic organisms belonging to the phylum Rhodophyta, including many species of seaweed with eye-catching bright red or purple colors. Many of them play an important role in human life.
Dulse algae (Palmaria palmata) is distributed in the North Pacific and Atlantic oceans. This algae is used to flavor soups and salads. They have been a source of fiber and vitamins for communities in Northern Europe for centuries.
Coral algae (Corallina officinalis) is present on coastal rocks around the world. With its special feather-like branching shape, it can be easy to confuse this type of algae with coral.
Calliblepharis ciliata is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. This species of algae has flat fronds, surrounded by countless small branches that look like eyelashes.
Maerl algae (Phymatolithon calcareum) appears abundantly around the British Isles. They often grow and form shells on corals. People often use this type of algae to grind it up as a calcium-rich additive for soil.
Algae Gracilaria bursa-pastoris, distributed from southern England to the Pacific and Caribbean regions. Algae species of the genus Gracilaria are long and thin, some species are exploited as raw materials for making jelly.
Mastocarpus stellatus algae is distributed in the North Atlantic Ocean. This species of algae has genital spines visible to the naked eye, which are reproductive bodies located on the comb leaves.
The alga Chondria dasyphylla occurs worldwide. They have feathery leaves with small club-shaped branches, from which spore-bearing bodies and cauldron-shaped fruit bodies emerge.