''Lithothamnion'' is a genus of thalloid

red alga Red algae, or Rhodophyta (, ; ), make up one of the oldest groups of eukaryotic algae. The Rhodophyta comprises one of the largest Phylum, phyla of algae, containing over 7,000 recognized species within over 900 Genus, genera amidst ongoing taxon ...

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 ...

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, often used as

food fortification Food fortification is the addition of micronutrients (essential trace elements and vitamins) to food products. Food enrichment specifically means adding back nutrients lost during food processing, while fortification includes adding nutrients not ...

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 ...

s to achieve a similar

calcium Calcium is a chemical element; it has 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 to it ...

content as a

cow milk Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of lactating mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfed human infants) before they are able to digest solid food. Milk contains many nutri ...

which is around 120 mg/100 ml. However, in April 2021 the

European Court of Justice The European Court of Justice (ECJ), officially 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 Union, it is tasked with interpreting ...

forbade its use in

organic food Organic food, also known as ecological or biological food, refers to foods and beverages produced using methods that comply with the standards of organic farming. Standards vary worldwide, but organic farming features practices that cycle resou ...

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 seaweed, marine and freshwater algae, freshwater, as well as sea-grass. History AlgaeBase began in March 1996, founded by Michael D. Guiry, Michael Guiry. Text ...

Corallinaceae {{rhodophyta-stub