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Gracilaria
cornopifolia
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Description:
Gracilaria
cornopifolia has solid, stiff, cylindrical branches
that are 1 to 4 mm wide. It has pointed tips that are
sometimes sun bleached white/pink. Ordinarially, Gracilaria
cornopifolia is dark red to white.
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Habitat:
Griacilaria
cornopifolia is
most often found in tidepools and on reef flats.
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Range
(include invasive, native, endemic): This
algae is invasive to Hawaii and is found across the pacific.
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Trophic
information: Many
kinds of animals can eat Gracilaria cornopifolia. In fact,
it is the name ingrediant in the popular Limu Poke. While
it is edible, it is only so when prepared using the proper
process. There are also a lot of intertidal species that
not only eat the algae, but also live in it.
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Safety:
Because
this algae is found growing on rocks and they tend to get
very slippery in high tide and when there is other algae
growing. That makes a possible slip hazard. Also, when eaten
in great amounts Gracilaria cornopifolia has been
found to cause severe illness and death, (unless cooked
properly.)
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Comments:
Gracilaria
cornopifolia is often confused with Gracilaria
salicornia even though they are not very similar. This
could be hazardous because salicornia is not edible
as cornopifolia is. Gracilaria cornoifolia
is thinner and a different color. Gracilaria salicornia
is also listed on this site. You can find it on the scientific
name list page.
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Links
to Resources:
here for info on dangers of eating uncooked seaweed.
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