Algae/Legends

"…the algae allows us to breathe oxygen beneath the surface for several minutes."

―Lyric

Algae were a group of organisms that typically grew underwater and liked to cover the surfaces of objects. Algae could also be airborne, living on water droplets and chemical vapors floating in the atmosphere.

Colors

"Those colors are caused by microspheres of airborne algae."

―Jacen Solo, describing Bespin's clouds

Algae ranged in colors across the spectrum, including blue, green, orange, pink, and was sometimes luminescent.

Uses

While it was preyed upon for sustenance by some plants and animals, 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. Furthermore, varieties such as the bestrum algae from Baralou were broken down and processed into foods for consumption, and dried algae extracts were used to create algae sugar for use in alcohol fermentation. Algae-bread was especially favored by Herglics, who also made algae ice cream.

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.

Types of algae

• Bestrum 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

Domain of Evil "Domain of Evil" – Classic Adventures: Volume Two Cantina Communications (First mentioned) Battle for the Golden Sun Death in the Undercity "Death in the Undercity" – Classic Adventures: Volume Three "Wind Raiders of Taloraan" – Star Wars Adventure Journal 5 "The Prize Pelt: The Tale of Bossk"—Tales of the Bounty Hunters "Therefore I Am: The Tale of IG-88"—Tales of the Bounty Hunters "Plant Food"—The Kathol Outback X-Wing: Isard's Revenge (Mentioned only) I, Jedi Jedi Search Dark Apprentice Darksaber Planet of Twilight Before the Storm The New Rebellion Junior Jedi Knights: Lyric's World Junior Jedi Knights: Anakin's Quest Young Jedi Knights: Heirs of the Force (Mentioned only) Young Jedi Knights: The Lost Ones Young Jedi Knights: Trouble on Cloud City

Sources

• Galaxy Guide 2: Yavin and Bespin
• Galaxy Guide 2: Yavin and Bespin, Second Edition
• Planets of the Galaxy, Volume One
• The Star Wars Planets Collection
• "Smuggler's Log" – Star Wars Adventure Journal 4
• The Illustrated Star Wars Universe
• Galaxy Guide 3: The Empire Strikes Back, Second Edition
• The Jedi Academy Sourcebook
• Shadows of the Empire Planets Guide
• Lords of the Expanse
• Star Wars Trilogy Sourcebook, Special Edition
• Alien Encounters

External links

• Algae on Wikipedia