Green guts, Stone hair
Ulva clathrata

Family: Ulvaceae

What it is like

A seaweed. It is a branched tube with a wall one cell thick. This can collapse to look ribbon like. Branches are mainly near the base of the plant.

Where it is found

It grows in tropical and temperate places. It grows in cooler seasons and on rocks close to sandy shores. It can form a green sheet over the rocks. It grows in the lower inertidal zone. It is on sheltered and exposed shores.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Alaska, Algeria, Antarctica, Arctic, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Azores, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brazil, Britain, Cameroon, Canada, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Caribbean, Central Africa, Chile, China, Corsica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, East Africa, Easter Island, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Europe, Fiji, France, FSM, Ghana, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Hawaii, Hispaniola, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Kuwait, Lesser Antilles, Liberia, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Micronesia, Middle East, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen

How it is used for food

The plant is washed in fresh water then dried slowly in an oven and ground. It is then added to flour or sprinkled on dough. It can be made into snacks and cakes. The hair like fronds are also eaten fresh in salads, boiled in salt water, or steamed with meat.

Edible parts

Algae, frond, seaweed

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bright green nori, Spiky tendrils, Tahalib, Ti tyau, Taitiao

Synonyms

Conferva clathrata Roth; Enteromorpha clathrata (Roth) Greville; and many others