Lithothamnion

Summary

Lithothamnion is a genus of thalloid red alga comprising 103 species. Its members are known by a number of common names.[note 1] The monomerous, crustose thalli are composed of a single system of filaments which grow close to the underlying surface. Lithothamnion reproduces by means of multiporate conceptacles.

Lithothamnion
Temporal range: Cretaceous–Recent[1]
L. glaciale showing conceptacles. Millimetre scale
Scientific classification Edit this classification
(unranked): Archaeplastida
Division: Rhodophyta
Class: Florideophyceae
Order: Corallinales
Family: Hapalidiaceae
Genus: LithothamnionHeydrich, 1897 Species edit

The valid species currently considered to belong to this genus are:

  • L. album
  • L. antarcticum
  • L. apiculatum
  • L. asperulatum
  • L. aucklandicum
  • L. australe
  • L. brasiliense
  • L. breviaxe
  • L. calcareum
  • L. californicum
  • L. capense
  • L. carolii
  • L. chathamense
  • L. circumscriptum
  • L. colliculosum
  • L. corallioides
  • L. coralloides
  • L. cottonii
  • L. coulmanicum
  • L. crispatum
  • L. dehiscens
  • L. diguetii
  • L. ectocarpon
  • L. elegans
  • L. engelhartii
  • L. esperi
  • L. expansum
  • L. flavescens
  • L. fornicatum
  • L. fragiissimum
  • L. fruticulosum
  • L. fuegianum
  • L. geppiorum
  • L. gibbosum
  • L. giganteum
  • L. glaciale
  • L. grade
  • L. grande
  • L. granuliferum
  • L. guadalupense
  • L. hamelii
  • L. haptericola
  • L. hauckii
  • L. heterocladum
  • L. heteromorphum
  • L. incrustans
  • L. indicum
  • L. insigne
  • L. intermedium
  • L. islei
  • L. japonicum
  • L. kerguelenum
  • L. labradorense
  • L. lacroixi
  • L. laminosum
  • L. lemoineae
  • L. magnum
  • L. maldivicum
  • L. mangini
  • L. margaritae
  • L. marlothii
  • L. minervae
  • L. montereyicum
  • L. muelleri
  • L. murmanicum
  • L. neglectum
  • L. nitidum
  • L. nodulosum
  • L. norvegicum
  • L. notarisii
  • L. novae-zelandiae
  • L. occidentale
  • L. pacificum
  • L. pauciporosum
  • L. peleense
  • L. peruviense
  • L. philippii
  • L. phymatodeum
  • L. pocillum
  • L. polymorphum
  • L. praefruticulosum
  • L. proliferum
  • L. propontidis
  • L. rugosum
  • L. ruptile
  • L. scabiosum
  • L. sejunctum
  • L. sonderi
  • L. soriferum
  • L. spissum
  • L. squarrulosum
  • L. tenue
  • L. thelostegium
  • L. tophiforme
  • L. tusterense
  • L. ungeri
  • L. valens
  • L. validum
  • L. van
  • L. vanheurckii
  • L. vescum
  • L. volcanum

Uses edit

 
Calcium supplements made from Lithothamnium calcareum

The species Lithothamnium calcareum is, besides Tricalcium phosphate, often used as food fortification in plant-based milk substitutes to achieve a similar calcium content as a cow milk which is around 120 mg/100 ml.[2] However, in April 2021 the European Court of Justice forbade its use in organic food products such as drinks.[3][4][5][6]

Notes edit

  1. ^ Recorded common names are griuán, maërl, punalevä-suku, stenhinna and maerl.

References edit

  • Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. (2008). "Lithothamnion". AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
  1. ^ Taylor, Thomas N; Taylor, Edith L; Krings, Michael (2009). Paleobotany: the biology and evolution of fossil plants. ISBN 978-0-12-373972-8.
  2. ^ Klapp, Anna-Lena, ed. (October 2019), "OTHER PLANT MILKS", The Plant Milk Report, Berlin: ProVeg e. V., p. 16, ISBN 978-3-948516-00-0, retrieved 2021-03-02{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  3. ^ EU Court Forbids Calcium Sourced From Algae in Organic Drinks (Courthouse News Service)
  4. ^ Important European Court of Justice decision on adding non-organic ingredients to organic drinks (The National Law Review)
  5. ^ EU law prohibits the addition of the alga Lithothamnium calcareum in the processing of organic foodstuffs for the purpose of their enrichment with calcium (Case C-815/19) (ECJ)
  6. ^ Full text of judgment in case C-815/19 (ECJ)

External links edit