Page 289 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods
P. 289
GREEN ALGAE
Gutweed, Ulva intestinalis (ULVACEAE)
Ryan Hodnett, CC-BY-SA-4.0
GUTWEED, also known as Sea Hair and Grass Kelp, EDIBLE PARTS: fronds
is found all over the world. It can grow on a variety KEY MEDICINAL USES: Extracts of gutweed have
on substrates and can continue growing if it becomes shown antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and an-
detached, floating in the water in thick mats. It can ti-inflammatory properties.
grow in saltwater as well as brackish water and it can
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Best harvested in
tolerate poor water quality. It was previously known
spring to early summer since this is when it has the
as Enteromorpha intestinalis.
highest growth rates, but is still inundated for long
TIDAL ZONE: It’s found between the high tide line periods. In late summer, sometimes it can be exposed
and the splash zone. for long enough to dry it naturally so it can be har-
FROND: The bright green mass of thin, tubular fronds vested when it turns white. Thoroughly wash the
makes this seaweed easy to identify. The fine fronds sand off, dry, and use in any dish.
can grow between 4-12 inches (10-30cm) long, and GUTWEED MASHED POTATOES: Ingredients: ¼
have rounded tips. They are randomly segmented cup of dried gutweed, 5 large potatoes, 1 finely diced
along their length, which helps them to retain water shallot, 4 tbsp. butter, ¼ cup of milk, a pinch of salt
when exposed. The closely related Ulva linza has flat- and pepper. Dice and boil the potatoes until they are
ter tubular fronds. soft, drain them, add the butter and the milk and
HOLDFAST: disc-shaped holdfast with no obvious mash them until smooth. Then stir in the sea lettuce,
stipe shallots, salt and pepper and serve.
288
