Kelp

:vicky:
[COLOR=magenta][B]Kelp[/B] are large [/COLOR][URL="http://www.menewsha.com/wiki/Seaweed"][COLOR=magenta]seaweeds[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=magenta] ([/COLOR][URL="http://www.menewsha.com/wiki/Algae"][COLOR=magenta]algae[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=magenta]) belonging to the [/COLOR][URL="http://www.menewsha.com/wiki/Brown_algae"][COLOR=magenta]brown algae[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=magenta] (class Phaeophyceae) and are classified as the order [B]Laminariales[/B]. There are about 300 different [/COLOR][URL="http://www.menewsha.com/wiki/Genus"][COLOR=magenta]genera[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=magenta]. Some species can be very long and form [/COLOR][URL="http://www.menewsha.com/wiki/Kelp_forest"][COLOR=magenta]kelp forests[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=magenta].[/COLOR]
[COLOR=magenta]Kelp fisheries is a branch of fisheries science that deals with the study of and uses of large seaweeds of the brown algae group that are commonly called kelp.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=magenta]Kelp grows in underwater "[/COLOR][URL="http://www.menewsha.com/wiki/Forest"][COLOR=magenta]forests[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=magenta]" ([/COLOR][URL="http://www.menewsha.com/wiki/Kelp_forest"][COLOR=magenta]kelp forests[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=magenta]) in shallow oceans. It requires nutrient-rich water below about 20 °C (68 °F). It is known for its high growth rate — the genera [I]Macrocystis[/I] and [I]Nereocystis[/I] grow as fast as half a meter a day, ultimately reaching 30 to 80 m.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=magenta]Through the 19th century, the word "kelp" was closely associated with seaweeds that could be burned to obtain [/COLOR][URL="http://www.menewsha.com/wiki/Soda_ash"][COLOR=magenta]soda ash[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=magenta] (primarily sodium carbonate). The seaweeds used included species from both the orders Laminariales and [/COLOR][URL="http://www.menewsha.com/wiki/Fucales"][COLOR=magenta]Fucales[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=magenta]. The word "kelp" was also used directly to refer to these processed ashes.[/COLOR]