Ulva lactuca
L.
Sea Lettuce, Green algae, Green laver, Green nori
(c) artzerphotog, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) Misha Zitser, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) Kristian Peters, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Seaweed, Frond, Algae
In Scotland, U. lactuca is used in soups and salads. In Hawaiʻi, U. lactuca is also called limu pālahala and eaten in different ways: mixed with other algae, salted and served with raw fish, boiled in water and served as a soup, or served with chili pepper, onions, soy sauce and sugar. Additionally, U. lactuca has traditional uses in Hawaiʻi as fertilizer and as adornment for hula. When U. lactuca is used for hula it is called limu pāpahapaha. As an alternative to vegetable oil crops, U. lactuca can be a source of biofuels, suitable for transesterification in biodiesel production, and does not require arable land and fertilizers. It can grow in saline and waste water and has a higher ability in sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide than terrestrial energy crops.
Where to Find It
It grows in tropical and temperate places. They are gathered from rocks along the seacoast. It grows in rock pools and muddy beaches and enters estuaries. It grows well in areas with reduced salinity and thrives where there is not pollution.
Africa, Algeria, Andaman Islands, Angola, Asia, Australia, Azores, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, East Africa, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Europe, Faroe Islands, France, French Polynesia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinée, Hawaii, Hispaniola, Iceland, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Lesser Antilles, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Morocco, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Norway, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, West Africa, West Indies, Western Sahara, Worldwide,
How to Identify
A seaweed. It is bright green. The blades are leaf like. The fronds are broad and ribbon like.
Nutrition Score: 65/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frond | 16.9 | 544 | 130 | 22.1 | — | 10 | 5.3 | 1.2 |
Wikipedia
Source ↗Ulva lactuca, also known by the common name sea lettuce, is an edible green alga in the family Ulvaceae. It is the type species of the genus Ulva. A synonym is U. fenestrata, referring to its "windowed" or "holed" appearance.
Notes
The species in Australia may be Ulva australis.
Names & Synonyms
Hai ts'ai, Havsalat, Luche verde, Sea grass, Sosa
References (40)
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