Hypneaceae () |
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epiphytic; marine; depth range 1 - 31 m |
Indo-Pacific and Atlantic Ocean. |
Thalli prostrate, greenish to purple, forming thick clumps of intricating branches on rocky substrate. Branches terete to slightly compressed, 1.5 to 3 mm broad. Branching irregularly alternate to opposite, forming wide angles and rounded axils. Branches divided into short stubby spines at the terminal portion; the short ultimate branchlets are characteristically stout, stubby, and spinose. Thalli up to 8 cm in height (Ref. 80758). |
Source of protein and carrageenan; used for human consumption, as animal feed, medicine (antitumor) and as fertilizer; used as coconut manure in Brazil and West Indies (Ref. 80758); of low commercial interest internationally as carrageenan source (Ref. 82223). Hypnea plants have compounds with medical and pharmaceutical uses such as muscle relaxants and blood agglutinins (reviewed in Schenkman, 1989) (Ref. 82232). |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
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harmless |
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