Limu (algae)

Limu, otherwise known as rimu, remu or imu (from Proto-Austronesian *limut) is a general Polynesian term for edible plants living near or underwater, such as algae. In Hawaii, there are approximately one hundred names for kinds of limu, sixty of which can be matched with scientific names. Hundreds of species of marine algae were once found in Hawaii. Many limu are edible, and used in the cuisine throughout most of Polynesia.

Uses Several species of limu are used as food throughout Polynesia and is typically eaten raw as accompaniment to meals, usually fish.

In Hawaii, limu was seen as a major component of the Hawaiian diet alongside fish and poi. Hawaiians cultivated several varieties of seaweed for food as well as to feed fish farmed within fish ponds. As many as 75 types of limu were used for food, more than the 35 used in Japanese cuisine, which is also well known for its use of seaweed. In modern times, limu is often used as a condiment, typically in raw fish dishes such as poke.

Limu was used in hoʻoponopono, the ancient Hawaiian process of conflict resolution. Injured and accused parties gathered to pray, seek forgiveness and eat leaves as a symbol of reconciliation. It is also used in traditional hula attire and as medicine.

Due to the shape of its foliage, the Maori also applied the name to the native tree Dacrydium cupressinum.

Types Limu comes from multiple genera

Cook Islands ImageEnglish nameIndigenous nameDescription and useCrowned sea bells (Turbinaria ornata) (Rarotonga and Mauke), (Aitutaki), (Pukapuka)Double-edge sargassum (Sargassum aquifolium)Open-sponge seaweed (Hydroclathrus clathratus) (Rarotonga)Sargassum obtusifolium (Sargassum obtusifolium) (Rarotonga)Sea grapes (Caulerpa racemosa) (Rarotonga and Mauke), (Mangaia), (Aitutaki)Turkeytail seaweed (Padina boryana) (Rarotonga)

Easter Island ImageEnglish nameIndigenous nameDescription and useDictyopteris australis (Dictyopteris australis)Sargassum obtusifolium (Sargassum obtusifolium)

French Polynesia ImageEnglish nameIndigenous nameDescription and useCactus tree alga (Caulerpa cupressoides) (Rapan)Chnoospora minima (Chnoospora minima) (Marquesan)Cladophora patentiramea (Cladophora patentiramea) (Marquesan)Gracilaria (Gracilaria) (Tahitian)Grass kelp (Enteromorpha flexuosa) (Marquesan)Green sea cushion (Codium arabicum) (Marquesan)Sea grapes (Caulerpa racemosa) (Tahitian), (Marquesan), (Austral), (Rapan)Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) (Tahitian), (Marquesan)

Hawaii ImageEnglish nameIndigenous nameDescription and useAntler seaweed (Codium reediae)Branched sea cushion (Codium edule)Meaning "rat's foot seaweed"Branched string lettuce (Ulva prolifera)Champia (Champia)Meaning "thin seaweed". Shares its name to the similarly used species Chondria tenuissima. Chondria tenuissima (Chondria tenuissima)Meaning "thin seaweed". Shares its name to the similarly used Champia seaweeds.Chylocladia (Chylocladia), Crowned sea bells (Turbinaria ornata)Dictyopteris (Dictyopteris)Meaning "seaweed gathered from the deep" referring to its habitat of growing in deep water. The species Dictyopteris australis and Dictyopteris plagiogramma were gathered as food.Dictyota (Dictyota)Meaning "bitter seaweed"Double-edge sargassum (Sargassum aquifolium)Meaning "forgiving seaweed" employed during .Grateloupia filicina (Grateloupia filicina)or "pubic hair") – favorite of Liliʻuokalani.Gelidium (Gelidium)Meaning "long or slender seaweed"Griffithsia (Griffithsia), Gymnogongrus (Gymnogongrus)Meaning "dry or hard seaweed"Halymenia formosa (Halymenia formosa)shawl of the goddess Hina. Shares its name with a native butterfly and a family of nudibranchs.Laurencia nidifica (Laurencia nidifica)Laver (Porphyra), Martensia fragilis (Martensia fragilis)Ogo (Gracilaria coronopifolia)cooked with meats to form a savory jelly. Later diced raw with poke, mixed with chili and salt.Polysiphonia (Polysiphonia)Red sea plume (Asparagopsis taxiformis)Meaning "supreme seaweed"Sailor's eye (Valonia utricularis)Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca), named after a shark god who was swaddled in its silken leaves. used in hulaSpyridia spinella (Spyridia spinella)Tattered sea moss (Hypnea)Tuffed seaweed (Ahnfeltiopsis concinna)

New Zealand ImageEnglish nameIndigenous nameDescription and useBubble caulerpa (Caulerpa sedoides) Carrageenan weed (Gigartina), Clymene (Clymene), , , Eelgrass (Zostera), Gracilaria (Gracilaria)Kelp (Laminariales), Laver (Porphyra), , , Originally, Karengo was used to describe seaweed belonging to the Porphyra genus. Recent genomic analysis however has Karengo cover more than 30 species belonging to genus Porphyra, Pyropia, Clymene and Lysithea.Lysithea (Lysithea), , , Neptune's necklace (Hormosira banksii)Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca)Sea rimu (Caulerpa brownii)Southern bull kelp (Durvillaea), , Southern laver (Pyropia), , ,

Niue ImageEnglish nameIndigenous nameDescription and useCactus tree alga (Caulerpa cupressoides)Sea grapes (Caulerpa racemosa)

Samoa ImageEnglish nameIndigenous nameDescription and useCrowned sea bells (Turbinaria ornata)Gracilaria (Gracilaria)Halymenia (Halymenia)Sargassum (Sargassum)Sea grapes (Caulerpa racemosa)Turkeytail seaweed (Padina boryana)

Tonga ImageEnglish nameIndigenous nameDescription and useCactus tree alga (Caulerpa cupressoides)Cladosiphon (Cladosiphon)Flat-top sea grape (Caulerpa peltata)Green feather algae (Caulerpa sertularioides), , Hypnea charoides (Hypnea charoides)Scalpel green seaweed (Caulerpa scalpelliformis)Sea grapes (Caulerpa racemosa), , , , Serrated green seaweed (Caulerpa serrulata)

Tuvalu ImageEnglish nameIndigenous nameDescription and useSea grapes (Caulerpa racemosa)

Threats Limu has become increasingly difficult to find because of over-picking, pollution, and urban development, especially construction in watersheds. Many important kinds of limu grow best in brackish water where fresh water empties into the sea. Another threat to limu is the spread of marine alien invasive species, such as members of the genus Kappaphycus (smothering seaweed), Gracilaria salicornia (gorilla ogo), Avrainvillea amadelpha (leather mudweed), Hypnea musciformis (hook weed) and Acanthophora spicifera (prickly seaweed).

Limu (algae)

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