Kelp

Kelps are large brown algae seaweeds. There are about 30 different genear. Despite its appearance, kelp is not a plant, it is a heterokont. Kelps grows in underwater forests in shallow water. The organisms require nutrient rich water with temperaturs between 6 and 14 °C. They are known for their high growth rate. Macrocystis and Nereocystis can grow as fast as half a metre a day. In the 19^th century the word kelp was associated with seaweeds that could be burned to obtain soda ash. The word kelp was also used directly to refer to these processed ashes.