What is Wakame?
{{Taxobox | image = | name = Wakame | status = | regnum = [[Protista]] | divisio = [[Heterokont]]ophyta | classis = [[Brown alga|Phaeophyceae]] | ordo = [[Kelp|Laminariales]] | familia = [[Alariaceae]] | genus = ''[[Undaria]]'' | species = '''''U. pinnatifida''''' | binomial = ''Undaria pinnatifida'' | binomial_authority = (Harvey) Suringar, [[1873]] }} [[File:Salade wakame (Paris).JPG|thumb|Wakame salad]] '''Wakame''' ([[Japanese language|Japanese]]: わかめ or 若布) is a type of [[kelp]]. People eat it. Its scientific name is ''Undaria pinnatifida''. It is sold either dried or salted. It is often used in [[miso soup]] and [[salad]]s. In [[Korea]] it is called '''''miyeok'''''. It is used in salads, or as the main ingredient in miyeok [[soup]]. In [[China]] it is called '''''qundaicai'''''. Chinese production is concentrated around [[Dalian]]. In [[New Zealand]] ''Undaria pinnatifida'' is a very serious [[weed]], and is one of the 100 worst [[invasive species]] in the world. It was first seen in [[Wellington]] Harbour in [[1987]]. It probably arrived accidentally in the late 1980s, on ships from Asia, in [[ballast]] water. It is native to cold temperate coastal areas of [[Japan]], [[Korea]] and [[China]], but recently it has also spread to [[France]], [[Britain]], [[Spain]], [[Italy]], [[Argentina]] and [[Australia]]. ''Undaria'' is now found around much of south-eastern New Zealand, and as far north as [[Auckland]]. It spreads in two ways. Naturally, through the millions of microscopic [[spore]]s released by each fertile plant; and attached to vessel hulls and marine farming equipment. ''Undaria'' is a highly successful and fertile species, which makes it a serious invader. == Other websites == * [http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=////DOCREP/006/Y4765E/y4765e0b.htm Seaweeds used as human food] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060209124254/http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=%2F%2F%2F%2FDOCREP%2F006%2FY4765E%2Fy4765e0b.htm |date=2006-02-09 }} * [http://www.algaebase