Culot, Comb weed
Gelidiella acerosa
Family: Gelidiellaceae
What it is like
A seaweed. It is a wiry plant. The main branch can be straight or curved. It has side branches which are slender and like teeth on a comb. These can be along one or two sides. The plants can be pale brown or yellow in places with good sunlight. They are darker brown or purple in shaded places.
There are 23 Gelidiella species. It is high in Calcium and Potassium.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in the lower intertidal zone on sheltered shores.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, China, Fiji, Haiti, Hispaniola, India, Indochina, Japan, Malaysia, Middle East, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Vietnam, West Indies, Yemen
How it is used for food
It is eaten in salads and as a cooked vegetable.
Edible parts
Seaweed, algae, frond