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Seaweed is marine macro-algae. Other types of algae include marine micro-algae, such as phytoplankton, and freshwater algae (chlorella, spirulina), some of which are also edible. While they share similarities, seaweed is not a plant in the scientific sense of the word, and pre-dates the existence of terrestrial plants by 700 million years according to the fossil record. Seaweed is both the first known multi-cellular organism on the planet, and the first organism known to reproduce sexually.
Terrestrial plants and seaweed both create food for themselves through photo-synthesis, but rather than absorb minerals and nutrients from the soil as plants do, seaweed absorbs trace minerals directly from the ocean water. Unlike terrestrial plants, seaweed does not require a vascular system to transport nutrients throughout the organism, being immersed in an ocean of nutrients fully available to the entirety of the organism.
Seaweed has a holdfast in place of roots, a stipe instead of a stem, and fronds in lieu of leaves. The holdfast serves strictly as an anchor, and does not absorb nutrients from the substrate to which the seaweed is attached. Seaweeds reproduce by spore, and belong to the scientific kingdom of eukaryotic organisms known as “Protista,” whose primary membership requirement is that you are neither a plant, animal, or fungi.
The hidden truth.
Simply put, one of the most fascinating uncovered and best kept secrets in the world is the Seas and Oceans. These waters hold the healing of the nations. The benefits these eco-systems have to offer to our human bodies is incredible.
