description Solieria chordalis Overview
Solieria chordalis is a species of red marine alga belonging to the family Solieriaceae. It is distributed along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, where it typically inhabits shallow subtidal waters. The seaweed is characterized by its gelatinous, cord-like thallus and is harvested on a commercial scale because it contains kappa-carrageenan, a polysaccharide widely used as a gelling and thickening agent in the food and cosmetics industries.
help Solieria chordalis FAQ
What is Solieria chordalis used for?
Like other members of the red algal family Solieriaceae, Solieria chordalis contains carrageenan, a gelling polysaccharide used in food and cosmetics. French researchers, including labs in Brittany such as CEVA, have studied it as a source of valuable extracts and biomass.
Where does Solieria chordalis grow?
It is found along the northeastern Atlantic coasts, notably in Brittany, France, and in parts of the Mediterranean. It typically grows in shallow subtidal waters, often anchored on rocks or other algae.
Why does Solieria chordalis wash up in huge amounts on Breton beaches?
Winter storms routinely detach this gelatinous, cord-like alga from the seabed and pile it ashore along the Brittany coastline. These strandings have actually become a research subject, with scientists looking at ways to valorize the beached biomass rather than treat it as waste.
What does Solieria chordalis look like?
It has a gelatinous, cartilaginous thallus made up of cylindrical, cord-like branches that are typically reddish to brownish in color. The texture is notably slippery and soft compared to many other red seaweeds found in the same habitat.
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