GRACILARIA
Scientific Name: Gracilaria Caudata / Gracilaria Birdiae
Common name: macarrao (spaghetti), rabo de cavalo (horse tail)
Gracilaria is a red algae genus (Rhodophyta) in the family Gracilariaceae with more than 100 species worldwide, inhabiting temperate and tropical seawaters, covering from intertidal to subtidal area.
Gracilaria Caudata (Birdiae) specie is a purple reddish color algae with its thallus of up to 50 cm. The axes and branches grow laterally and radially. Branch shape is cylindrical with diameter between 2 to 4 mm. It is usually attached to solid substratum by a small discoid holdfast or living on sandy bottoms with part of the thallus immersed in the sand.
In Northeast Brazil this specie grows along Paraiba, Rio Grande do Norte and Ceara states coastline, usually on intertidal and subtidal rocky zones.
Uses
Gracilaria is notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte (agar-agar producing seaweed). It is the main raw material for the extraction of the hydrocolloid agar-agar. Gracilaria is also used as a source of food for both humans and shellfish (abalone).
GIGARTINA
Scientific Name: Chondracanthus teedei (Gigartina teedei)
Common name: (Brazil) fital (ribbon), palha (straw)
Chondracanthus is a red algae genus (Rhodophyta) in the family Gigartinaceae. Purple reddish or sometimes yellowish color, thallus of up to 30 cm, arising from small discoid holdfasts.
Main axes are broadly flattened, 5 to 12 mm in width. Branches grows flattened laterally and irregularly from main axes. Secondary branches grows irregularly and spine-like.
In Northeast Brazil this specie grows along Pernambuco, Paraiba, Rio Grande do Norte and Ceara states coastline, usually on intertidal and subtidal rocky zones.
Uses
Chondracanthus is used as a raw material for the production of carrageenan and also as a source of food for human consumption in asian countries.
KAPPAPHYCUS
Scientific Name: Kappaphycus Alvarezii (Eucheuma Cottonii)
Common name: (Brazil) Eucheuma, kappaphycus
Kappaphycus is a red algae genus (Rhodophyta) in the family Solieriaceae. Dark greenish, brown to deep purple and purple reddish in color, thallus up to 50 cm height, densely and loosely branched with many coarse spinose branchlets.
Main axes cylindrical throughout, 5 to 12 mm in diameter. This specie is native from the warm seawaters of Micronesia, Indonesia and the Philippines. It is typically found below the low tide mark to the upper subtidal zone of a reef, growing on sand to rocky seafloor areas along a coral reef, where water movement is slow to moderate.
Kappaphycus comes mostly from seaweed farming in Indonesia and the Philippines, that was developed as a result of high demand of this type of seaweed and over-harvesting. In Brazil, this specie was introduced from the Philippines and it has been farmed commercially since.
Uses
It is the most important commercial source of kappa carrageenan, a hydrocolloid used in the food industry as a gelling and stabilizing agent.
HYPNEA
Scientific Name: Hypnea Musciformis
Common name: (Brazil) Cabelo pixaim (nappy hair)
Hypnea is a red algae genus (Rhodophyta) in the family Cystocloniaceae. It is often found in clumps or masses of loosely intertwined cylindrical filament branches.
Some have short axes (3-6 cm), others longer axes (10 – 15 cm), both covered with lots of tiny pointed projections that give a prickly look. Branching is variable and irregular. Colors range from reddish, brownish, greenish or yellowish. Hypnea is common on calm intertidal and shallow subtidal reef flats, tide pools and on rocky intertidal benches, attached to sandy flat rocks or frequently epiphytic on other algae. It may be also found free-floating. Hypnea musciformis occurs widely in the northeast coast of Brazil.
Uses
It is an important source of kappa carrageenan for the food industry. It is also a very good source of seaweed extract for the cosmetic industry.