Chondrus crispus
Irish moss | |
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A-D Chondrus crispus ; E-F Mastocarpus stellatus | |
Scientific classification | |
(unranked): | Archaeplastida |
Division: | Rhodophyta |
Class: | Florideophyceae |
Order: | Gigartinales |
Family: | Gigartinaceae |
Genus: | Chondrus |
Species: | C. crispus
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Binomial name | |
Chondrus crispus |
Chondrus crispus—commonly called Irish moss or carrageenan moss (Irish carraigín, "little rock")—is a species of red algae which grows abundantly along the rocky parts of the Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America. In its fresh condition it is soft and cartilaginous, varying in color from a greenish-yellow, through red, to a dark purple or purplish-brown. The principal constituent is a mucilaginous body, made of the polysaccharide carrageenan, which constitutes 55% of its dry weight. The organism also consists of nearly 10% dry weight protein and about 15% dry weight mineral matter, and is rich in iodine and sulfur. When softened in water it has a sea-like odour. Because of the abundant cell wall polysaccharides, it will form a jelly when boiled, containing from 20 to 100 times its weight of water.
Description
Chondrus crispus is a relatively small sea alga, reaching up to a little more than 20 cm in length. It grows from a discoid holdfast and branches four or five times in a dichotomous, fan-like manner. The morphology is highly variable, especially the broadness of the thalli. The branches are 2–15 mm broad and firm in texture, and the color ranges from bright green towards the surface of the water, to deep red at greater depths.[1] The gametophytes (see below) often show a blue iridescence at the tip of the fronds[2] and fertile sporophytes show a spotty pattern. Mastocarpus stellatus (Stackhouse) Guiry is a similar species which can be readily distinguished by its strongly channelled and often somewhat twisted thalli.
Distribution
Chondrus crispus is common all around the shores of Ireland and can also be found along the coast of Europe including Iceland, the Faroe Islands,[3] western Baltic Sea to southern Spain.[4] It is found on the Atlantic coasts of Canada[4][5] and recorded from California in the United States to Japan.[4] However, any distribution outside the Northern Atlantic needs to be verified. There are also other species of the same genus in the Pacific Ocean, for example, C. ocellatus Holmes, C. nipponicus Yendo, C. yendoi Yamada et Mikami, C. pinnulatus (Harvey) Okamura and C. armatus (Harvey) Yamada et Mikami.[6]
Ecology
Chondrus crispus is found growing on rock from the middle intertidal zone into the subtidal zone,[7] all the way to the ocean floor. It is able to survive with minimal sunlight.
C. crispus is susceptible to infection from the
Uses
C. crispus is an industrial source of
Life history
Irish moss undergoes an
Scientific interest
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
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Energy | 205 kJ (49 kcal) |
12.29 g | |
Sugars | 0.61 g |
Dietary fiber | 1.3 g |
0.16 g | |
1.51 g | |
Niacin (B3) | 4% 0.593 mg |
Pantothenic acid (B5) | 4% 0.176 mg |
Vitamin B6 | 4% 0.069 mg |
Folate (B9) | 46% 182 μg |
Vitamin C | 3% 3 mg |
Vitamin E | 6% 0.87 mg |
Vitamin K | 4% 5 μg |
Minerals | Quantity %DV† |
Calcium | 6% 72 mg |
Iron | 49% 8.9 mg |
Magnesium | 34% 144 mg |
Manganese | 16% 0.37 mg |
Phosphorus | 13% 157 mg |
Sodium | 3% 61 mg |
Zinc | 18% 1.95 mg |
†Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults,[13] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies.[14] |
C. crispus, compared to most other
See also
References
- ISBN 9780716776710.
- PMID 26139470.
- ISBN 978-90-6105-011-7.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-565-00781-2.
- ISBN 978-0-472-04904-2.
- ^ Hu, Z., Critchley, A.T., Gao T, Zeng X, Morrell, S.L. and Delin, D. 2007 Delineation of Chondrus (Gigartinales, Florideophyceae) in China and the origin of C. crisps inferred from molecular data. Marine Biology Research, 3: 145-154
- ISBN 0 900761 28 8
- .
- S2CID 20561417.
- ^ a b "Carageenan". PubChem, US National Library of Medicine. 9 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 14 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 795.
- S2CID 24607698.
- ^ United States Food and Drug Administration (2024). "Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels". Retrieved 2024-03-28.
- )
- PMID 23503846.
External links
- AlgaeBase: Chondrus crispus
- Chondrus crispus Stackhouse Chondrus crispus.
- Marine Life Information Network
- Irish Moss industry on Prince Edward Island [1]
- Sea Moss Market Report