Lessonia (alga)

Lessonia
Lessonia nigrescens
Scientific classification
(unranked):	SAR
Division:	Heterokontophyta
Class:	Phaeophyceae
Order:	Laminariales
Family:	Lessoniaceae
Genus:	Lessonia Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1825
Species
See text

Lessonia is a genus of large kelp native to the southern Pacific Ocean. It is distributed along the coasts of South America, New Zealand, Tasmania, and the Antarctic islands.^[1]

This is one of two principal genera in kelp forests (the other is Macrocystis). In Chile, the preservation of Lessonia wild kelp is a crucial factor for the rocky shores. By harvesting these wild populations of Lessonia kelp, marine biologists are able to analyze the effects of kelp towards wildlife.^[2]

Some species are of economic importance, such as Lessonia nigrescens, which is harvested for alginate.^[3]

Species

• Lessonia adamsiae
• Lessonia brevifolia
• Lessonia corrugata
• Lessonia frutescens
• Lessonia nigrescens
• Lessonia searlesiana
• Lessonia tholiformis
• Lessonia trabeculata
• Lessonia vadosa
• Lessonia variegata

References

1. Cho, G. Y., Klochkova, N. G., Krupnova, T. N., & Boo, S. M. (2006). The reclassification of Lessonia laminarioides (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae): Pseudolessonia gen. nov. 1. Journal of Phycology, 42(6), 1289-1299.
2. Orostica; Aguilera; Donoso. "Effect of grazing on distribution and recovery of harvested stands of Lessonia berteroana kelp in northern Chile": VOL 511. pgs71–82. doi:10.3354/meps10931.
3. Venegas, M., Tala, F., Fonck, E., & Vásquez, J. (1992). Sporangial sori on stipes of Lessonia nigrescens Bory (Laminariales, Phaeophyta): A high frequency phenomenon in intertidal populations of northern Chile. Botanica Marina, 35(6), 573-578.

External links