Sargassum Algae: the context |
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Sargassum vulgare ("Beerentang").
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Sargassum 1, B e r r y S e a w e e d , brown algae with special swimming bladders. 250 species in all of the warmer oceans, in particular in the Australian region. Can be found in huge amounts floating freely in the Sargasso Sea (S. natans). |
The Sargasso Sea2
has received its name from the Sargassum algae.
It is assumed that the Sargasso Sea has been discovered even before
Columbus by the Phoenicians. This is the most reasonable explanation for
sayings the the Sea behind the "Columns of Hercules"
3 was of a jelly-like consistence.
The big Sargassum algae jungles within the Atlantic Oceans consist mostly out
of a single species, Sargassum bacciferum .
The single plants resemble small branched bushes, have strongly
dented leafs, about 3 cm in length and bear globular berries
("swimming bladders"). In former times even ocean ships had to stop
their engines from time to time in order to remove those algae from the
paddle-wheels. 1) Source: Der grosse Herder, 5. Auflage 1956.
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