Chondrus Crispus

Chondrus Crispus, commonly called Irish moss or carrageenan moss, is a species of red algae that grows abundantly along the rocky Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America, from the middle intertidal zone into subtidal waters. It reaches slightly over 20 centimeters long with fan-like branching and coloring that ranges from bright green near the surface to deep red at depth, and its primary constituent, the polysaccharide carrageenan, makes up 55 percent of its dry weight and is extracted commercially as a widely used food thickener and stabilizer.