Spiny sea plant, Spiny weed, Soft spineweed
Acanthophora spicifera

Family: Rhodomelaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows along warm coasts. It grows in the lower intertidal zones on sheltered shores. It grows on reefs and tidal pools. It grows on atolls.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andamans, Angola, Asia, Australia, Bahran, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cameroon, Caribbean, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Eritrea, Fiji, FSM, Gabon, Guam, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, Hispaniola, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, New Caledonia, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Reunion, Samoa, Sao Tome & Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, West Indies, Yemen

How it is used for food

It is eaten in salads and also cooked.

It is a minor food.

Edible parts

Seaweed, algae, frond, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Abu-abu, Bulung tombong bideng, Culot, Kirokiro, Lumi karokaro

Synonyms

Fucus spicifer M. Vahl;