Igisu (English spelling) pitcher

A seaweed of the Ceramium family, a red algae. In the strict sense, it refers to one species with the Latin scientific name Ceramium kondoi , but here we will talk about the Ceramium genus in general. It has a delicate body shape with thin thread-like branches that branch out one after another, and some have a beautiful pink body color, while others have a dirty dark red color. There are also many variations depending on the species, with some having thick body branches and others as delicate as silk threads. It is characterized by the branch ends being forked and the body branches being made up of a group of cells lined up in a row, and can be distinguished by careful observation. Examples of species with delicate body branches include Keigisu and Hariigisu, while those with thick body branches that are somewhat large include Haneigisu, Igisu, and Futoigisu. It is widely distributed, with some species of the Ceramium genus found all along the coasts of Japan.

[Moriaki Shinzaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

紅藻植物、イギス科の海藻。狭義にはCeramium kondoiのラテン学名をもつ一種をさすが、ここではイギス属全般について述べる。細い糸状枝が次々と二又(ふたまた)に分岐する、繊細な体形をもち、体色は美しいピンク色のものもあれば、薄汚れた感じの暗紅色のものもある。また、体枝が太めのものもあれば、絹糸ほどの繊細なものもあるなど、種により変化が多い。枝端が二又になることと、体枝が一列に並ぶ細胞群からなることが特徴で、よく観察すると識別できる。繊細な体枝をもつものとしてはケイギス、ハリイギスがあり、太めの体枝をもち、やや大形になるものではハネイギス、イギス、フトイギスなどがある。分布は広く、日本の全沿岸でイギス属のいずれかの種が産する。

［新崎盛敏］

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