Algae

Algae were a group of organisms that typically grew underwater and liked to cover the surfaces of objects. Once thought to be plants, they were classified separately as far back as 32 BBY.^[2] Algae could also be airborne,^[3] living on water droplets and chemical vapors floating in the atmosphere.^[4] Additionally, algae grew on objects out of water, sometimes dangling from structures in strands up to several hundred meters in length and creating virtual "forests" of algae.^[5]

Colors

Algae ranged in colors across the spectrum, including blue,^[6] brown,^[7] green,^[8] orange,^[3] pink,^[4] and purple,^[9] and was sometimes luminescent.^[10]

Uses

While it was preyed upon for sustenance by some plants and animals,^[5] some species of algae thrived in a commensal relation with other species, including the Melodies of Yavin 13, to which the algae provided life-sustaining oxygen.^[1] Furthermore, varieties such as the bestrum algae from Baralou were broken down and processed into foods for consumption,^[12] and dried algae extracts were used to create algae sugar for use in alcohol fermentation.^[13] Algae-bread was especially favored by Herglics, who also made algae ice cream.^[14]

Sometime before the P'w'eck Emancipation Movement in 28 ABY, the process of Ssi-ruuk entechment was improved upon by harvesting the life energy emitted by algae to prevent the decay of captured souls.^[11]

A more advanced form of algae could be found in the Cygnus B system. It contained a planet with oceans inhabited by giant sapient algae beds.^[15] Similarly, the planet Paulking XIV of the Corporate Sector had oceans filled with talking algae.^[16]

Types of algae

• Bestrum algae
• "Glower" algae

Behind the scenes

Algae, a photosynthetic organism in real life, was introduced into Star Wars lore by author John Chesterman in his 1979 article "Cantina Communications," from Star Wars Official Poster Monthly 16.

Appearances

Sources

Notes and references

External links

• Algae on Wikipedia