Lithothamnion
Temporal range: Cretaceous–Recent[1]
L. glaciale showing conceptacles. Millimetre scale
Scientific classification Edit this classification
(unranked): Archaeplastida
Division: Rhodophyta
Class: Florideophyceae
Order: Corallinales
Family: Hapalidiaceae
Genus: Lithothamnion
Heydrich, 1897

Lithothamnion is a genus of thalloid red alga comprising 103 species. Its members are known by a number of common names.[note 1] 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 conceptacles.

Species

The valid species currently considered to belong to this genus are:

Uses

Calcium supplements made from Lithothamnium calcareum

The species Lithothamnium calcareum is, besides Tricalcium phosphate, often used as food fortification in plant-based milk substitutes to achieve a similar calcium content as a cow milk which is around 120 mg/100 ml.[2] However, in April 2021 the European Court of Justice forbade its use in organic food products such as drinks.[3][4][5][6]

Notes

  1. ^ Recorded common names are griuán, maërl, punalevä-suku, stenhinna and maerl.

References

  • Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. (2008). "Lithothamnion". AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
  1. ^ Taylor, Thomas N; Taylor, Edith L; Krings, Michael (2009). Paleobotany: the biology and evolution of fossil plants. ISBN 978-0-12-373972-8.
  2. ^ Klapp, Anna-Lena, ed. (October 2019), "OTHER PLANT MILKS", The Plant Milk Report, Berlin: ProVeg e. V., p. 16, ISBN 978-3-948516-00-0, retrieved 2021-03-02((citation)): CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  3. ^ EU Court Forbids Calcium Sourced From Algae in Organic Drinks (Courthouse News Service)
  4. ^ Important European Court of Justice decision on adding non-organic ingredients to organic drinks (The National Law Review)
  5. ^ EU law prohibits the addition of the alga Lithothamnium calcareum in the processing of organic foodstuffs for the purpose of their enrichment with calcium (Case C-815/19) (ECJ)
  6. ^ Full text of judgment in case C-815/19 (ECJ)

External links


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