Alaria esculenta

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Alaria esculenta at low tide in Spiddál, Co. Galway, Ireland

Description

Alaria esculenta consists of a long, thin golden to greenish- brown undivided frond rising from a short stipe. The distinguishing feature is the midrib, a continuation of the round cross-section stipe. Often the edge of the frond is torn as far in as the midrib, which assists the plant in withstanding violent wave action.  The stipe is short with distinct fleshy, flat, round-ended reproductive leaflets growing perpendicularly from the stipe in older plants. These are known as the reproductive organs called  sporophylls. The claw-like holdfast is small and plants may reach over 4 m in length but are commonly less than 2 m in length.

Distribution

Alaria esculenta is a common intertidal kelp of European and North American exposed rocky coasts . Alaria has been recorded at exposed sites around Ireland except for parts of the East coast. The species is found at the extreme lower shore and below, on rocky substrate, hanging from sheer or steeply sloping rock walls. It sometimes colonizes rocky terraces of the extreme lower inter-tidal shore where it can appear mixed in with other species.

Alaria esculenta cultivation on long lines in Ard Bay, Connamara, Ireland

Nutritional analysis

Optimum time of harvest is between spring and early summer. Like all sea vegetables the vitamin and mineral content varies through the year.  Vitamin C content is normally highest in late spring, high values of vitamin B 12 are earlier in late winter and early spring while high vitamin K values are found in early summer.  Alaria has high levels of vitamin B6, vitamin K, iodine and bromine. It also contains sugar, starch, vitamin B12, vitamin C, nitrogen, boron, radium, rubidium, cadmium, cobalt, nickel, and other trace elements.