Laminariaceae

Laminariaceae is a family of brown algal seaweeds, many genera of which are popularly called "kelp". The family includes the largest known seaweeds: Nereocystis and Macrocystis. The brown seaweed, Laminaria japonica Aresch (Laminariaceae), common seafood and important economic brown alga in China and many other countries, has been documented as a drug in traditional Chinese medicine for over 1000 years. It is considered effective in removing phlegm, inducing diuresis, alleviating edema, eliminating carbuncle, and clearing heat.