Thallus fluffy, fine, filamentous creeping mats or tufts, to 4 cm high, bright light pink; branching irregular to alternate. Branches cylindrical, occasionally moniliform (with segments swollen or bead-like), 30-80 µm diam., central axial filament surrounded by 3 pericentral cells; cells commonly pointed at tips, twice as long as broad, each set rotated approximately 60°; apex with single prominent apical cell cutting off lens-shaped cell basally. Holdfast initially disc-like, later becoming branched, tangled, creeping, forming filamentous mass. Tetrasporangia solitary on outer filaments, not in groups or series, formed from one pericentral cell of segment. Red to bluish violet color. Fluffy appearance and shaped like a christmas tree. grows 3-15cm high.

Link to Algaebase: http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=636

Direct use as food - food, consumed whole. Used fresh in Hawaii as “limu kohu” (generic name for seaweed) to flavour meat and fish dishes.

Pharmacological activity - antifungal.

Asparagopsis taxiformis or “limu kohu” is a highly valued edible marine red alga in Hawaii. It was so prized by the Hawaiians for its peppery flavor that only ali`i (Hawaiian royalty) were allowed to eat it. The alga is found throughout the world in tropical marine environments and more recently, is considered an invasive species in the Mediterranean Sea. The species has also been examined for its potential as a source of pharmaceutical agents since its extracts contain anti-Leishmania compounds and antibacterial halogenated compounds. Found on edges of reef in areas of constant water motion, the plant has largely disappeared from the Main Hawaiian Islands where it was once very abundant.

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Ní Chualáin, F., Maggs, C.A., Saunders, G.W. & Guiry, M.D. (2004). The invasive genus Asparagopsis (Bonnemaisoniaceae, Rhodophyta): molecular systematics, morphology, and ecophysiology of Falkenbergia isolates. Journal of Phycology 40: 1112-1126.

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Zeng, C. (Tseng, C.K.), Luan, R., Chen, Z. & Li, W. (2005). Flora algarum marinarum sinicarum Tomus II Rhodophyta No. II Acrochaetiales Nemaliales Bonnemaisoniales. pp. [i-vii], i-xxiii, 1-180 , pls I-VIII. Beijing: Science Press.

limu kohu; bulaklak {Tagal};

Cat's tail red seaweed {Eng}

Basionym: Fucus taxiformis Delile

Type locality: Alexandria, Egypt (Silva, Basson & Moe 1996: 182). Type: herb. Lenormand, C (Yoshida 1998: 648).