Researchers have recently discovered 20 new species of Sea lettuce along the Baltic and Scandinavian coasts.
About Sea Lettuce:
- Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) is commonly referred to as seaweed.
- It is a genus of green algae usually found growing on rocky shores of seas and oceans around the world.
- Some species of Sea lettuce also grow in brackish water rich in organic matter or sewage and can accumulate heavy metals.Â
- It usually grows attached by a small discoid holdfast to rocks and shells, but it can also grow in a free-floating, non-attached form, sometimes in prolific masses.
- It needs a lot of sunlight to flourish.
- It is perennial, and grows all year, although the largest blooms occur during the summer.
- Large masses of sea lettuce are often an indicator of nutrient pollution in the water.
- In some parts of the world, people eat sea lettuce in soups and salads.
- Features:
- It resembles leaves of green lettuce. The color is often bright green but can range from dark green to almost yellow.Â
- The leaves can be narrow or broad and single or multi-lobed. They’re often rounded or oval with ruffled edges and riddled with holes or perforations.Â
- They are rich in iodine and vitamins A, B, and C.