This economically important genus is characterized by long, leathery laminae and relatively large size.

[4] Life-Cycle: The most apparent form of Laminaria is its sporophyte phase, a structure composed of the holdfast, the stipe, and the blades.

[9] The rocky shores at Dalian, the northern coast of the Yellow Sea, along with its cold waters provided excellent growing conditions for these species.

Due to the height of the Laminaria, they provide protection for creatures that the open ocean does not often give.

Laminaria expresses a haplo-diplophasic life history, in which it alternates from a macroscopic thallic sporophyte structure, consisting of the holdfast, a stipe, and the blades, to a filamentous, microscopic gametophyte.

[13] A laminaria stick may be used to slowly dilate the cervix to induce labor, or for surgical procedures including abortions or to facilitate the placement of an intrauterine device.

The stick is made up of a bundle of dried and compressed laminaria that expands as water is absorbed.

[14] Laminaria is a source of the relatively rare element, iodine, which is commonly used to promote thyroid health.

The greater proportion of commercial cultivation is for algin, iodine, and mannitol, which are used in a range of industrial applications.

In South Korea it is processed into a sweetmeat known as laminaria jelly, in other countries it is also used in fresh salad form, which is also canned for preservation for deliverу and selling purposes in other regions.

[15] Due to their ability to grow underwater and in salt water, algae are being looked into as a source of biofuel.

Laminaria is less desired as a renewable energy source due to its high ash content when burned.