Porphyra dioica Brodie & L.M. Irvine
Common names: Purple Laver, Sloke (English),
Sleabhchán, Sleabhac (Gaeil.)
Description: Membranous, monostromatic,
olive-green to brown-purple or blackish fronds, to 500 mm long
and 200 mm wide, from short stipe and basal holdfast.
Habitat: On rock in interdidal, mainly on
semi-exposed shores hanging downwards from rocks embedded in
sand or affected by sand. Most common in spring and early
summer; widely distributed.
Usage: Laver bread is prepared from this
species (and others). Plants are steeped in fresh water, boiled
to a jelly, then used as a sauce with mutton or coated with
oatmeal and fried in bacon fat. The related species,
Porphyra yezoensis and P. tenera are
cultivated for food
on a large scale in Japan and other Far Eastern countries.
Similar species: Porphyra umbilicalis
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