''Lithothamnion'' is a genus of thalloid
red alga
Red algae, or Rhodophyta (, ; ), are one of the oldest groups of eukaryotic algae. The Rhodophyta also comprises one of the largest phyla of algae, containing over 7,000 currently recognized species with taxonomic revisions ongoing. The majority ...
comprising 103 species. Its members are known by a number of common names.
[Recorded common names are griuán, maërl, punalevä-suku, stenhinna and maerl.] The monomerous, crustose thalli are composed of a single system of filaments which grow close to the underlying surface. ''Lithothamnion'' reproduces by means of multiporate
conceptacle
Conceptacles are specialized cavities of marine and freshwater algae that contain the reproductive organs. They are situated in the receptacle and open by a small ostiole.Boney, A.D. (1969). ''A Biology of Marine Algae''. Hutchinson Educational Lt ...
s.
Species
The valid species currently considered to belong to this genus are:
*''L. album''
*''L. antarcticum''
*''L. apiculatum''
*''L. asperulatum''
*''L. aucklandicum''
*''L. australe''
*''L. brasiliense''
*''L. breviaxe''
*''L. calcareum''
*''L. californicum''
*''L. capense''
*''L. carolii''
*''L. chathamense''
*''L. circumscriptum''
*''L. colliculosum''
*''L. corallioides''
*''L. coralloides''
*''L. cottonii''
*''L. coulmanicum''
*''L. crispatum''
*''L. dehiscens''
*''L. diguetii''
*''L. ectocarpon''
*''L. elegans''
*''L. engelhartii''
*''L. esperi''
*''L. expansum''
*''L. flavescens''
*''L. fornicatum''
*''L. fragiissimum''
*''L. fruticulosum''
*''L. fuegianum''
*''L. geppiorum''
*''L. gibbosum''
*''L. giganteum''
*''
L. glaciale''
*''L. grade''
*''L. grande''
*''L. granuliferum''
*''L. guadalupense''
*''L. hamelii''
*''L. haptericola''
*''L. hauckii''
*''L. heterocladum''
*''L. heteromorphum''
*''L. incrustans''
*''L. indicum''
*''L. insigne''
*''L. intermedium''
*''L. islei''
*''L. japonicum''
*''L. kerguelenum''
*''L. labradorense''
*''L. lacroixi''
*''L. laminosum''
*''L. lemoineae''
*''L. magnum''
*''L. maldivicum''
*''L. mangini''
*''L. margaritae''
*''L. marlothii''
*''L. minervae''
*''L. montereyicum''
*''L. muelleri''
*''L. murmanicum''
*''L. neglectum''
*''L. nitidum''
*''L. nodulosum''
*''L. norvegicum''
*''L. notarisii''
*''L. novae-zelandiae''
*''L. occidentale''
*''L. pacificum''
*''L. pauciporosum''
*''L. peleense''
*''L. peruviense''
*''L. philippii''
*''L. phymatodeum''
*''L. pocillum''
*''L. polymorphum''
*''L. praefruticulosum''
*''L. proliferum''
*''L. propontidis''
*''L. rugosum''
*''L. ruptile''
*''L. scabiosum''
*''L. sejunctum''
*''L. sonderi''
*''L. soriferum''
*''L. spissum''
*''L. squarrulosum''
*''L. tenue''
*''L. thelostegium''
*''L. tophiforme''
*''L. tusterense''
*''L. ungeri''
*''L. valens''
*''L. validum''
*''L. van''
*''L. vanheurckii''
*''L. vescum''
*''L. volcanum''
Uses
The species ''Lithothamnium calcareum'' is, besides
Tricalcium phosphate
Tricalcium phosphate (sometimes abbreviated TCP) is a calcium salt of phosphoric acid with the chemical formula Ca3(PO4)2. It is also known as tribasic calcium phosphate and bone phosphate of lime (BPL). It is a white solid of low solubility. Mo ...
, often used as
food fortification in
plant-based milk substitute
A milk substitute is any substance that resembles milk and can be used in the same ways as milk. Such substances may be variously known as non-dairy beverage, nut milk, grain milk, legume milk, mock milk and alternative milk.
For adults, milk ...
s to achieve a similar
calcium
Calcium is a chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. As an alkaline earth metal, calcium is a reactive metal that forms a dark oxide-nitride layer when exposed to air. Its physical and chemical properties are most similar ...
content as a
cow milk
Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfed human infants) before they are able to digest solid food. Immune factors and immune-modulating ...
which is around 120 mg/100 ml. However, in April 2021 the
European Court of Justice
The European Court of Justice (ECJ, french: Cour de Justice européenne), formally just the Court of Justice, is the supreme court of the European Union in matters of European Union law. As a part of the Court of Justice of the European U ...
forbade its use in
organic food
Organic food, ecological food or biological food are food and drinks produced by methods complying with the standards of organic farming. Standards vary worldwide, but organic farming features practices that cycle resources, promote ecological ...
products such as drinks.
Full text of judgment in case C-815/19 (ECJ)
/ref>
Notes
References
*
External links
Images
of ''Lithothamnion'' at Algaebase
AlgaeBase is a global species database of information on all groups of algae, both marine and freshwater, as well as sea-grass.
History
AlgaeBase began in March 1996, founded by Michael Guiry. Text was copied from this source, which is avail ...
Corallinaceae
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