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. 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
- "Those colors are caused by microspheres of airborne algae."
- ―Jacen Solo, describing Bespin's clouds
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
- "The life energy distilled from concentrated banks of algae and other primitive life-forms can prevent the decay common to previous soul-captures."
- ―Lwothin
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.[12] Furthermore, varieties such as the bestrum algae from Baralou were broken down and processed into foods for consumption,[13] and dried algae extracts were used to create algae sugar for use in alcohol fermentation.[14] Algae-bread was especially favored by Herglics, who also made algae ice cream.[15]
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.[16]
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.[17] Similarly, the planet Paulking XIV of the Corporate Sector had oceans filled with talking algae.[18]
Types of 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
- 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
- Alien Anthology
"Galactic Gazetteer: Hoth and the Greater Javin" (original article link) on Wizards.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
"Yavin: The Big Red One Part 1" (original article link) on Wizards.com (content now obsolete; backup link) (Vignette)
"Yavin: The Big Red One Part 3" (original article link) on Wizards.com (content now obsolete; backup link) (Vignette)
"A Campaign Guide to the Centrality"—Star Wars Gamer 5
"Standoff on Leritor"—Star Wars Gamer 10
- The Essential Atlas
- Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Core Rulebook
- Enter the Unknown
- Suns of Fortune
Welcome to the Star Wars Jungle on StarWars.com (article) (backup link not verified!)
- Star Wars: Age of Rebellion Core Rulebook
Notes and references
- ↑ Junior Jedi Knights: Lyric's World
- ↑ Star Wars Episode I: The Gungan Frontier
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Therefore I Am: The Tale of IG-88"—Tales of the Bounty Hunters
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Young Jedi Knights: Trouble on Cloud City
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Boba Fett: Crossfire
- ↑ Dark Apprentice
- ↑ The New Jedi Order: Dark Tide I: Onslaught
- ↑ The New Rebellion
- ↑ Dark Nest II: The Unseen Queen
- ↑ I, Jedi
- ↑ The New Jedi Order: Force Heretic II: Refugee
- ↑ Junior Jedi Knights: Lyric's World
- ↑ Planets of the Galaxy, Volume One
- ↑ Planet of Twilight
- ↑ Lords of the Expanse
- ↑ The New Jedi Order: Force Heretic II: Refugee
- ↑ Cantina Communications
- ↑ A Campaign Guide to the Centrality