Hypnea valentiae (Turner) Montagne

Order
Family
   Genus
Gigartinales
Hypneaceae
Hypnea

Hypnea valentiae (Turner) Montagne

Characteristics

The Plants are erect and laxly branched with distinct or percussent cylindrical main axis varying in thickness from 680 to 1700 µ; utlimate branchlets are 300 - 1300 µ long irregularly disposed around the axis. Branches ar simple and filiform (thred like) but occasionally forked and are distinctly oriented at right angle to the axis; stichidia (inflated branches) are seen as swollen bands at the middle, near the base or rarely near the tips of the ultimate branchlets.

Distribution : Bombay, Malvan, Ratnagiri,(Maharashtra) Goa, Karwar. Honawar, Bhatkal, (Karnataka) Lakshadweep.


Ecological status : Mangrove swamps and Intertidal zone.

IUCN status : LRnt

Uses : It is a carrageenan yielding plant. This seaweed is also edible and the freshly gathered seaweed is commonly prepared as salad.

Cultivation: Lecel 4

Existing Cultivation: None