Specimen image via iDigBio · CC0
Desmarestia
Sign in to saveDesmarestia, also known as acid weed, acid kelp, acidweed, sea sorrel, '''mermaid's hair, and landlady's wig''' is a genus of brown algae found worldwide. However, 'sea sorrel' can also specifically refer to Desmarestia viridis. Members of this genus can be either annual or perennial. Annual members of this genus store sulfuric acid in intracellular vacuoles. When exposed to air they release the acid, thereby destroying themselves and nearby seaweeds in the process. They are found in shallow intertidal zones.
Species
ウルシグサ属
Genus
- PhylumOchrophyta
- ClassPhaeophyceae
- OrderDesmarestiales
- FamilyDesmarestiaceae
via
Museum specimens
- Specimen records
- 468
- With media
- 294
- Family
- Desmarestiaceae
- Collections
- MHN-UABCS, US, MICH
- Recorded in
- Mexico, United States, South Africa
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Parent taxon
- Desmarestiaceae
- Image
- Desmarestia viridis Crouan.jpg
Show 6 more facts
- taxon name
- Desmarestia
- taxon rank
- genus
- Commons category
- Desmarestia
- Commons gallery
- Desmarestia
- AlgaeBase URL
- www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=56
- taxonomic type
- Desmarestia aculeata
Sources (1)
via Wikidata · CC0
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Encyclopedic overview
3 sectionsContents
- Species
- Gallery
- References
Desmarestia, also known as acid weed, acid kelp, acidweed, sea sorrel, '''mermaid's hair, and landlady's wig''' is a genus of brown algae found worldwide. However, 'sea sorrel' can also specifically refer to Desmarestia viridis. Members of this genus can be either annual or perennial. Annual members of this genus store sulfuric acid in intracellular vacuoles. When exposed to air they release the acid, thereby destroying themselves and nearby seaweeds in the process. They are found in shallow intertidal zones.
Ingesting sulfuric acid can cause severe digestive disturbances, but since sulfuric acid tastes extremely sour, members of the genus are unlikely to be eaten in harmful quantities.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Desmarestia” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.