imported>Plantdrew: synonym

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synonym

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{{Short description|Species of alga}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Laminaria.jpg
|genus = Laminaria
|species = digitata
|authority = ([[William Hudson (botanist)|Huds.]]) [[Jean Vincent Félix Lamouroux|Lamouroux]], 1813
|synonyms_ref =
|synonyms = *''Gigantea digitata'' <small>(Hudson) Stackhouse, 1816</small>
}}

'''''Laminaria digitata''''' is a large [[brown alga]] in the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Laminariaceae]], also known by the common name '''oarweed'''. It is found in the [[sublittoral zone]] of the northern [[Atlantic Ocean]].

==Description==
[[File:Laminaria digitata.jpg|thumb|left|''Laminaria digitata'']]
''Laminaria digitata'' is a tough, leathery, dark brown seaweed that grows to {{Convert|2 or 3|m|ft|frac=2}} long. The [[holdfast (biology)|holdfast]] which anchors it to the rock is conical and has a number of spreading root-like protrusions called [[rhizoid]]s. The [[Stipe (botany)|stipe]] or stalk is flexible and oval in cross section and may be over 1 inch in diameter and grow to {{Convert|5|ft|order=flip}} in length.<ref>Dickinson, C.I. 1963 ''British Seaweeds''. The Kew Series,</ref> The blade is large and shaped like the palm of a hand with a number of more or less regular finger-like segments. This [[seaweed]] can be distinguished from the rather similar ''[[Laminaria hyperborea]]'' by being darker in colour and having a shorter stipe that does not easily snap when bent.<ref name=SS>[http://www.seaweed.ie/descriptions/laminaria_digitata.html Laminaria digitata (Hudson) J.V. Lamouroux] The Seaweed Site. Retrieved 2011-09-22.</ref>

==Reproduction==
The life cycle is of the large [[diploid]] [[sporophyte]]s and microscopic gametophytes. Spores develop in sori which occur over the central part of the blade.<ref name="Bunker 17">Bunker, F.StP.D., Maggs, C.A., Brodie, J.A. and Bunker
A.R. 2017, ''Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland.'' Second Edition. Wild Nature Press, Plymouth, UK. {{ISBN|978-0-9955673-3-7}}</ref>

==Distribution==
''Laminaria digitata'' occurs in the north west Atlantic from [[Greenland]] south to [[Cape Cod]] and in the north east Atlantic from northern [[Russia]] and [[Iceland]] south to [[France]]. It is common round the coasts of the [[British Isles]] except for much of the east coast of [[England]].<ref name=SS/>

==Ecology==
''Laminaria digitata'' is found mostly on exposed sites on shores in the lower littoral where it may form extensive meadows and can be the dominant algal species. It has a fairly high intrinsic growth rate compared to other algae, 5.5% per day, and a carrying capacity of about 40 kg wet weight per square meter. It may reach lengths of about 4 m. It overlaps to a small degree in distribution with ''[[Fucus serratus]]'' and ''[[Alaria esculenta]]''. It is highly susceptible to grazing by sea urchins, among other species. It has low and high light limitation values of about 5 and 70 W per square meter respectively. Its distribution is also limited by salinity, wave exposure, temperature, desiccation and general stress. These and other attributes of the alga are summarized in the publications listed below.<ref>{{cite book |author= Lewis, J.R.year=1964 |title=The Ecology of Rocky Shores |publisher=[[English Universities Press]], London}}</ref><ref>Seip, K.L. 1980. A mathematical model of competition and colonization in a community of marine benthic algae. Ecological modelling 10:77-104</ref><ref>Seip, K.L. Mathematical models of rocky shore ecosystems. In Jørgensen, SE and Mitch, WJ (Eds) Application of ecological modelling in environmental management, Part B, Chap 13, pp 341-433</ref>

It is a known host of the [[pathogenic fungus]] ''[[Phycomelaina laminariae]]''.<ref Name="HH&GGE2004">Helgi Hallgrímsson & Guðríður Gyða Eyjólfsdóttir (2004). [https://rafhladan.is/bitstream/handle/10802/4090/Fjolrit_45.pdf?sequence=1 ''Íslenskt sveppatal I - smásveppir'' [Checklist of Icelandic Fungi I - Microfungi]. Fjölrit Náttúrufræðistofnunar. Náttúrufræðistofnun Íslands [Icelandic Institute of Natural History]. ISSN 1027-832X</ref>

==Uses==
''Laminaria digitata'' is harvested offshore of France and Morocco for use in manufacturing [[alginic acid]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Chapman|first1=Valentine|title=Seaweeds and their Uses|date=2012|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=9789400958067|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4WQyBwAAQBAJ&pg=PT262|language=en}}</ref> It is used as an ingredient in some cosmetics.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Pimentel|first1=Filipa|last2=Alves|first2=Rita|last3=Rodrigues|first3=Francisca|last4=P. P. Oliveira|first4=M.|title=Macroalgae-Derived Ingredients for Cosmetic Industry—An Update|journal=Cosmetics|date=25 December 2017|volume=5|issue=1|pages=2|doi=10.3390/cosmetics5010002|doi-access=free}} {{open access}}</ref>

It was traditionally used as a fertiliser and spread on the land. In the 18th century it was burnt to extract the potash it contained for use in the glass industry. In the 19th century it was used for the extraction of [[iodine]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Commercial Fertilizer and Plant Food Industry|date=1914|publisher=W.W. Brown Publishing Company|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gj4xAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA5-PA56|language=en}}</ref>

Historically, the dried stalks of ''L digitata'', called ''sea-tangle tents'' were used in [[traditional medicine]] as an [[abortifacient]]<ref name="DNZB Aves">{{DNZB|title=Isabel Annie Aves|first= Barbara|last= Brookes|id=4a25|accessdate=23 April 2017}}</ref> and for mechanically inducing labour.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Lawrence|first1=Ghislaine|title=Laminaria tents|journal=The Lancet|date=August 2002|volume=360|issue=9331|pages=497|doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(02)09688-5|s2cid=54253264}} {{open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Jozwiak|first1=M|last2=Bloemenkamp|first2=KW|last3=Kelly|first3=AJ|last4=Mol|first4=BW|last5=Irion|first5=O|last6=Boulvain|first6=M|title=Mechanical methods for induction of labour|journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|date=14 March 2012|issue=3|pages=CD001233|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD001233.pub2|pmid=22419277|url=https://research.monash.edu/files/300043031/300042948_oa.pdf}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Laminaria digitata}}
* [http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=C39c96bb863e819f5 Laminaria Digitata on AlgaeBase]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1093337}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Laminariaceae]]
[[Category:Edible algae]]
[[Category:Edible seaweeds]]
[[Category:Biota of the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:Marine biota of Europe]]
[[Category:Marine biota of North America]]
[[Category:Flora of Subarctic America]]
[[Category:Flora of Eastern Canada]]
[[Category:Flora of the Northeastern United States]]
[[Category:Flora of France]]
[[Category:Flora of Northern Europe]]
[[Category:Flora without expected TNC conservation status]]

Laminaria digitata - Revision history

imported>Plantdrew: synonym