''Desmarestia'' is a genus of

brown algae Brown algae (singular: alga), comprising the class Phaeophyceae, are a large group of multicellular algae, including many seaweeds located in colder waters within the Northern Hemisphere. Brown algae are the major seaweeds of the temperate an ...

found worldwide. It is also called acid weed, acidweed, ', sea sorrel, (), ', mermaid's hair, landlady's wig, or '. However, 'sea sorrel' can also specifically refer to ''

Desmarestia viridis Overview ''Desmarestia viridis'' is a species of brown algae and a member of the phylum Ochrophyta. It is also known as stringy acid kelp, and is the most acidic of the acid kelps with a vacuolar pH of about 1. It is best known for releasing su ...

''. Members of this genus can be either annual or perennial. Annual members of this genus store sulfuric acid in intracellular

vacuole A vacuole () is a membrane-bound organelle which is present in plant and fungal cells and some protist, animal, and bacterial cells. Vacuoles are essentially enclosed compartments which are filled with water containing inorganic and organic ...

s. When exposed to air they release the acid, thereby destroying themselves and nearby seaweeds in the process. They are found in shallow

intertidal zone The intertidal zone, also known as the foreshore, is the area above water level at low tide and underwater at high tide (in other words, the area within the tidal range). This area can include several types of habitats with various species ...

s. Ingesting sulfuric acid can cause severe digestive problems. but since sulfuric acid tastes extremely sour, members of the genus are unlikely to be eaten in harmful quantities. The genus was named in honor of

Anselme Gaëtan Desmarest Anselme Gaëtan Desmarest (6 March 1784 – 4 June 1838) was a French zoologist and author. He was the son of Nicolas Desmarest and father of Eugène Anselme Sébastien Léon Desmarest. Desmarest was a disciple of Georges Cuvier and Alexandre Br ...

Species

AlgaeBase lists 32 currently accepted species within the genus ''Desmarestia'', not including variations and subspecies. * '' Desmarestia aculeata'' ( L.) J.V.Lamouroux - Type specimen for the genus * '' Desmarestia anceps'' ( Montagne) * ''

Desmarestia antarctica ''Desmarestia'' is a genus of brown algae found worldwide. It is also called acid weed, acidweed, ', sea sorrel, (), ', mermaid's hair, landlady's wig, or '. However, 'sea sorrel' can also specifically refer to '' Desmarestia viridis''. Me ...

'' ( R.L.Moe & P.C.Silva) * ''

Desmarestia chordalis ''Desmarestia'' is a genus of brown algae found worldwide. It is also called acid weed, acidweed, ', sea sorrel, (), ', mermaid's hair, landlady's wig, or '. However, 'sea sorrel' can also specifically refer to '' Desmarestia viridis''. Me ...

'' ( J.D.Hooker & Harvey) * '' Desmarestia confervoides'' (

Bory de Saint-Vincent Jean-Baptiste Geneviève Marcellin Bory de Saint-Vincent was a French natural history, naturalist, Officer (armed forces), officer and politician. He was born on 6 July 1778 in Agen (Lot-et-Garonne) and died on 22 December 1846 in Paris. Biologis ...

) M.E.Ramírez & A.F.Peters * '' Desmarestia distans'' (

C.Agardh Carl Adolph Agardh (23 January 1785 in Båstad, Sweden – 28 January 1859 in Karlstad) was a Swedish botanist specializing in algae, who was eventually appointed bishop of Karlstad. Biography In 1807 he was appointed teacher of mathematic ...

) J.Agardh * '' Desmarestia dudresnayi'' J.V.Lamouroux ex Léman * '' Desmarestia farcta'' Setchell &

Gardner Gardner may refer to: Name *Gardner (given name) *Gardner (surname) Places United States *Gardner, Colorado * Gardner, Illinois *Gardner, Kansas *Gardner, Massachusetts *Gardner, North Dakota *Gardner, Tennessee * Gardner, Wisconsin * Glen Gardn ...

* '' Desmarestia filamentosa'' E.Y.Dawson * '' Desmarestia firma'' (

) Skottsberg * ''

Desmarestia foliacea ''Desmarestia'' is a genus of brown algae found worldwide. It is also called acid weed, acidweed, ', sea sorrel, (), ', mermaid's hair, landlady's wig, or '. However, 'sea sorrel' can also specifically refer to '' Desmarestia viridis''. Me ...

'' V.A.Pease * ''

Desmarestia gayana ''Desmarestia'' is a genus of brown algae found worldwide. It is also called acid weed, acidweed, ', sea sorrel, (), ', mermaid's hair, landlady's wig, or '. However, 'sea sorrel' can also specifically refer to '' Desmarestia viridis''. Me ...

'' Montagne * ''

Desmarestia herbacea ''Desmarestia herbacea'' is a species of brown algae found worldwide. Its common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's na ...

'' (

Turner Turner may refer to: People and fictional characters *Turner (surname), a common surname, including a list of people and fictional characters with the name *Turner (given name), a list of people with the given name *One who uses a lathe for turnin ...

) J.V.Lamouroux * ''

Desmarestia inanis ''Desmarestia'' is a genus of brown algae found worldwide. It is also called acid weed, acidweed, ', sea sorrel, (), ', mermaid's hair, landlady's wig, or '. However, 'sea sorrel' can also specifically refer to ''Desmarestia viridis''. Memb ...

'' Postels & Ruprecht * ''

Desmarestia intermedia ''Desmarestia'' is a genus of brown algae found worldwide. It is also called acid weed, acidweed, ', sea sorrel, (), ', mermaid's hair, landlady's wig, or '. However, 'sea sorrel' can also specifically refer to '' Desmarestia viridis''. Me ...

'' Postels & Ruprecht * ''

Desmarestia kurilensis ''Desmarestia'' is a genus of brown algae found worldwide. It is also called acid weed, acidweed, ', sea sorrel, (), ', mermaid's hair, landlady's wig, or '. However, 'sea sorrel' can also specifically refer to ''Desmarestia viridis''. Memb ...

'' Yamada * ''

Desmarestia latifrons ''Desmarestia'' is a genus of brown algae found worldwide. It is also called acid weed, acidweed, ', sea sorrel, (), ', mermaid's hair, landlady's wig, or '. However, 'sea sorrel' can also specifically refer to ''Desmarestia viridis''. Memb ...

'' ( Ruprecht) Kützing * '' Desmarestia latissima'' Setchell &

* '' Desmarestia ligulata'' ( Stackhouse) J.V.Lamouroux * '' Desmarestia menziesii'' J.Agardh * '' Desmarestia muelleri'' M.E.Ramírez & A.F.Peters * ''

Desmarestia munda ''Desmarestia'' is a genus of brown algae found worldwide. It is also called acid weed, acidweed, ', sea sorrel, (), ', mermaid's hair, landlady's wig, or '. However, 'sea sorrel' can also specifically refer to ''Desmarestia viridis''. Memb ...

'' Setchell &

N.L.Gardner Nathaniel Lyon Gardner (February 26, 1864 – August 15, 1937), was an American phycologist and mycologist who taught at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was the curator of the University Herbarium. He is known for his work on s ...

* '' Desmarestia patagonica''

Asensi Asensi is a Spanish surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Alex Asensi (born 1984), Spanish photographer and Pingpongo player *François Asensi (born 1945), Member of the National Assembly of France *Juan Manuel Asensi (born 1949), Spa ...

* ''

Desmarestia peruviana ''Desmarestia'' is a genus of brown algae found worldwide. It is also called acid weed, acidweed, ', sea sorrel, (), ', mermaid's hair, landlady's wig, or '. However, 'sea sorrel' can also specifically refer to '' Desmarestia viridis''. Me ...

'' Montagne * ''

Desmarestia pinnatinervia ''Desmarestia'' is a genus of brown algae found worldwide. It is also called acid weed, acidweed, ', sea sorrel, (), ', mermaid's hair, landlady's wig, or '. However, 'sea sorrel' can also specifically refer to ''Desmarestia viridis''. Memb ...

'' Montagne * '' Desmarestia pteridoides'' Reinsch * ''

Desmarestia rossii ''Desmarestia'' is a genus of brown algae found worldwide. It is also called acid weed, acidweed, ', sea sorrel, (), ', mermaid's hair, landlady's wig, or '. However, 'sea sorrel' can also specifically refer to '' Desmarestia viridis''. Me ...

'' J.D.Hooker & Harvey * '' Desmarestia sivertsenii'' Baardseth * '' Desmarestia tabacoides''

Okamura Okamura (written: 岡村 lit. "hill village") is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include: * , Japanese voice actor * , Japanese photographer * Allison Okamura, American roboticist * Arthur Okamura, American silk screen artist * ...

* '' Desmarestia tortuosa'' A.R.O. Chapman * '' Desmarestia tropica''

W.R.Taylor William Randolph Taylor (December 21, 1895 – November 11, 1990) was an American botanist known as an expert in phycology. Early life Taylor was born on December 21, 1895 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Pennsyl ...

- tropical acidweed * ''

'' ( O.F.Müller) J.V.Lamouroux - stringy acid kelp, green acid kelp, Desmarest's green weed, or sea sorrel

Gallery

References

Brown algae genera Desmarestiales {{Phaeophyceae-stub