Seaweed is an abundant plant that can be found throughout the world's oceans. With over 9,000 species, it is also a highly varied plant. Seaweed is incredibly useful to humans, functioning as food and as well being used as in industries such as agriculture, health and cosmetics.
Types
Though there are thousands of species of seaweed, there are only three major types. These are green, red and brown seaweeds.
Geography
Seaweed is found all over the world but at different depths. Green seaweed grows near shored in shallow water, brown seaweed at depths between 50 and 75 feet, and red seaweed up to 879 feet deep.
Identification
Green seaweed resembles branching fronds or irregular sheets, brown seaweed resembles long strips of masking tape, and red seaweed often presents itself in fern-like strands.
Use as Food
Green seaweed provides food for an array of sea creatures, especially the sea lettuce species. Humans eat seaweed as well; red types are seen in Japanese cooking and also in some European dishes.
Other Uses
All types of seaweed can be burned to remove minerals from it (also called kelp). Kelp is used in fertilizers, beauty products and reagents for dietary deficiencies in humans and farm animals.
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