''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (

Rhodophyta Red algae, or Rhodophyta (, ; ), are one of the oldest groups of eukaryotic algae. The Rhodophyta also comprises one of the largest phyla of algae, containing over 7,000 currently recognized species with taxonomic revisions ongoing. The majority ...

) notable for its economic importance as an

agarophyte An agarophyte is a seaweed, typically a red alga, that produces the hydrocolloid agar in its cell walls. This agar can be harvested commercially for use in biological experiments and culturing. In some countries (especially in the developing wo ...

, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

and

Oceania Oceania (, , ) is a region, geographical region that includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Spanning the Eastern Hemisphere, Eastern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres, Oceania is estimated to have a land area of ...

Taxonomy

''Gracilaria'' contains the following subtaxa: *'' Gracilaria abbottiana'' M.D.Hoyle *'' Gracilaria abyssalis'' Gurgel & Yoneshigue-Valentin *'' Gracilaria aculeata'' (Hering) Papenfuss *'' Gracilaria aggregata'' Hooker f. & Harvey *'' Gracilaria ambigua'' Greville *''

Gracilaria apiculata ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' P.Crouan & H.Crouan ** ''Gracilaria apiculata'' subsp. ''candelabriformis'' Gurgel, Fredericq & J.N.Norris *'' Gracilaria apiculifera'' J.Agardh ** ''Gracilaria arcuata'' f. ''rhizophora'' Børgesen ** ''Gracilaria arcuata'' var. ''attenuata'' Umamaheswara Rao ** ''Gracilaria arcuata'' var. ''snackeyi'' Weber Bosse *''

Gracilaria arcuata ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, South ...

'' Zanardini *''

Gracilaria armata ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' (C.Agardh) Greville *'' Gracilaria articulata'' C.F.Chang & B.M.Xia *'' Gracilaria ascidiicola'' E.Y.Dawson *''

Gracilaria attenuata ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, South ...

'' (M.Umamaheswara Rao) V.Krishnamurthy *''

Gracilaria austromaritima ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, South ...

'' Przhemenstskaya *''

Gracilaria babae ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, South ...

'' (H.Yamamoto) P.-K. Ng, P.-E. Lim & S.-M. Phang *''

Gracilaria baiana ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, South ...

'' Lyra, Gurgel, M.C.Oliveira & Nunes *''

Gracilaria beckeri ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, South ...

'' (J.Agardh) Papenfuss *''

Gracilaria birdiae ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, South ...

'' E.M.Plastino & E.C.Oliveira *''

Gracilaria blodgettii ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, South ...

'' Harvey *''

Gracilaria brasiliensis ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, South ...

'' Gurgel & Yoneshigue-Valentin *''

Gracilaria brevis ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae ( Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, Sout ...

'' W.R.Taylor *''

Gracilaria bursa-pastoris ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae ( Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, Sout ...

'' (S.G.Gmelin) P.C.Silva *''

Gracilaria camerunensis ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, South ...

'' Pilger *'' Gracilaria canaliculata'' Sonder *'' Gracilaria capensis'' F.Schmitz ex Mazza *'' Gracilaria capitata'' Zanardini *'' Gracilaria cearensis'' (A.B.Joly & Pinheiro) A.B.Joly & Pinheiro *'' Gracilaria cerrosiana'' W.R.Taylor *''

Gracilaria cervicornis ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae ( Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, Sout ...

'' (Turner) J.Agardh *'' Gracilaria changii'' (B.M.Xia & I.A.Abbott) I.A.Abbott, J.Zhang & B.M.Xia *''

Gracilaria chilensis ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae ( Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, Sout ...

'' C.J.Bird, McLachlan & E.C.Oliveira *'' Gracilaria chondracantha'' (Kützing) A.J.K.Millar *'' Gracilaria chondroides'' (Kützing) P.Crouan & H.Crouan ** ''Gracilaria chorda'' var. ''exilis'' Yamamoto *'' Gracilaria chouae'' Zhang & B.M.Xia *'' Gracilaria cliftonii'' Withell, A.J.K.Millar & Kraft *'' Gracilaria comosa'' Withell, A.J.K.Millar & Kraft ** ''Gracilaria compressa'' var. ''lyra'' J.Agardh *'' Gracilaria conferta'' (Schousboe ex Montagne) Montagne ** ''Gracilaria confervoides'' f. ''ecortica'' V.M.May ** ''Gracilaria confervoides'' var. ''ramulosa'' Kützing *''

Gracilaria coppejansii ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae ( Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, Sout ...

'' Muangmai, Lewmanomont, Prathep, Terada & Zuccarello *'' Gracilaria corallicola'' Zanardini *'' Gracilaria cornea'' J.Agardh *'' Gracilaria corniculata'' (C.Agardh) J.Agardh *''

Gracilaria coronopifolia ''Gracilaria coronopifolia'', also known as limu manauea in Hawaiian, or ogo in Japanese, is a species of edible red algae (Rhodophyta Red algae, or Rhodophyta (, ; ), are one of the oldest groups of eukaryotic algae. The Rhodophyta also comp ...

'' J.Agardh *'' Gracilaria corticata'' (J.Agardh) J.Agardh ** ''Gracilaria corticata'' var. ''cylindrica'' Umamaheswara Rao ** ''Gracilaria corticata'' var. ''linearis'' J.Agardh ** ''Gracilaria corticata'' var. ''ramalinioides'' J.Agardh *''

Gracilaria corymbiata ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' (N.Rodríguez de Rios) E.K.Ganesan ** ''Gracilaria crassa'' f. ''conglomerata'' Børgesen *''

Gracilaria crassissima ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' (P.Crouan & H.Crouan) P.Crouan & H.Crouan *'' Gracilaria crispata'' Setchell & Gardner *'' Gracilaria crockeri'' E.Y.Dawson *'' Gracilaria cuneata'' Areschoug *'' Gracilaria cuneifolia'' (Okamura) I.K.Lee & Kurogi *''

Gracilaria curtissiae ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, South ...

'' J.Agardh *''

Gracilaria cylindrica ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' Børgesen *'' Gracilaria damicornis'' J.Agardh *'' Gracilaria dawsonii'' Hoyle *''

Gracilaria debilis ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' (Forsskål) Børgesen *'' Gracilaria dendroides'' Gargiulo, De Masi & Tripodi *'' Gracilaria denticulata'' F.Schmitz ex Mazza *'' Gracilaria disputabilis'' (M.Bodard) M.Bodard *'' Gracilaria disticha'' (J.Agardh) J.Agardh *''

Gracilaria divaricata ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' Harvey *'' Gracilaria divergens'' (C.Agardh) J.Agardh *'' Gracilaria domingensis'' (Kützing) Sonder ex Dickie *'' Gracilaria dotyi'' Hoyle *'' Gracilaria dumosa'' Harvey & Bailey *'' Gracilaria dura'' (C.Agardh) J.Agardh ** ''Gracilaria dura'' f. ''prolificans'' Reinbold ** ''Gracilaria dura'' var. ''fruticosa'' J.Agardh *'' Gracilaria ecuadoreana'' (W.R.Taylor) E.Y.Dawson *'' Gracilaria edulis'' (S.G.Gmelin) P.C.Silva *''

Gracilaria ephemera ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' Skelton, G.R.South & A.J.K.Millar *'' Gracilaria epihippisora'' Hoyle *''

Gracilaria excavata ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' (Setchell & Gardner) G.M.Lyra, C.Iha, M.C. Oliveira, J.M.C.Nunes *'' Gracilaria falconii'' Ardito, Núñez-Resendiz, Dreckmann & Sentíes *'' Gracilaria fanii'' B.M.Xia & Pan *'' Gracilaria ferox'' J.Agardh *''

Gracilaria firma ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' C.F.Chang & B.-M.Xia *''

Gracilaria fisheri ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' (B.M.Xia & I.A.Abbott) I.A.Abbott, J.Zhang & B.M.Xia *'' Gracilaria flabelliformis'' (P.Crouan & H.Crouan) Fredericq & Gurgel ** ''Gracilaria flabelliformis'' subsp. ''aionana'' Gurgel, Fredericq & J.N.Norris ** ''Gracilaria flabelliformis'' subsp. ''simplex'' Gurgel, Fredericq & J.N.Norris *''

Gracilaria flagelliformis ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' (Sonder) Womersley *'' Gracilaria flexuosa'' E.M.Holmes *'' Gracilaria foliifera'' (Forsskål) Børgesen ** ''Gracilaria foliifera'' f. ''granatea'' (J.V.Lamouroux) Børgesen *'' Gracilaria fruticosa'' Harvey *'' Gracilaria galetensis'' Gurgel, Fredericq, & J.N.Norris *'' Gracilaria gardneri'' (Setchell) Gurgel, J.N.Norris & Fredericq *''

Gracilaria gigartinoides ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' (P.Crouan & H.Crouan) P.Crouan & H.Crouan *'' Gracilaria gigas'' Harvey *'' Gracilaria glomerata'' Zhang & B.M.Xia *'' Gracilaria gracilis'' (Stackhouse) Steentoft, L.M.Irvine & Farnham *'' Gracilaria gurgelii'' Freshwater *'' Gracilaria hainanensis'' C.F.Chang & B.M.Xia *'' Gracilaria halogenea'' A.J.K.Millar *'' Gracilaria hancockii'' E.Y.Dawson *'' Gracilaria hauckii'' P.C.Silva *'' Gracilaria hayi'' Gurgel, Fredericq & J.N.Norris *'' Gracilaria hermonii'' Millar *'' Gracilaria heteroclada'' (Montagne) J.Feldmann & G.Feldmann *'' Gracilaria hikkaduwensis'' Durairatnam *'' Gracilaria howensis'' A.H.S.Lucas *''

Gracilaria huangii ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' S.-M.Lin & De Clerck *'' Gracilaria hummii'' Hommersand & Freshwater *'' Gracilaria incrustata'' J.Agardh *'' Gracilaria incurvata'' Okamura *''

Gracilaria indica ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae ( Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, Sout ...

'' M.Umamaheswara Rao *'' Gracilaria intermedia'' J.Agardh ** ''Gracilaria intermedia'' subsp. ''ganesanana'' Gurgel, Fredericq & J.Norris *'' Gracilaria isabellana'' Gurgel, Fredericq & J.N.Norris *'' Gracilaria kanyakumariensis'' Umamaheswara Rao *'' Gracilaria khanjanapajiae'' Saengkaew, Muangmai & Zuccarello *'' Gracilaria kilakkaraiensis'' V.Krishnamurthy & Rajendran *''

Gracilaria lacerata ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' Setchell & N.L.Gardner *'' Gracilaria lantaensis'' Muangmai, Zuccarello, Noiraksa & Lewmanomont *'' Gracilaria latifrons'' P.Crouan & H.Crouan *''

Gracilaria longa ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' Gargiulo, De Masi & Tripodi *'' Gracilaria longirostris'' Zhang & Wang *'' Gracilaria mammillaris'' (Montagne) M.Howe *'' Gracilaria manilaensis'' Yamamoto & Trono *'' Gracilaria mannarensis'' Umamaheswara Rao *''

Gracilaria maramae ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' G.R.South *'' Gracilaria marcialana'' E.Y.Dawson *'' Gracilaria mayae'' A.J.K.Millar *''

Gracilaria megaspora ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' (E.Y.Dawson) Papenfuss *''

Gracilaria mexicana ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' (Kützing) P.Crouan & H.Crouan *'' Gracilaria microcarpa'' Dreckmann, Núñez-Resendiz & Sentíes *''

Gracilaria microdendron ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae ( Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, Sout ...

'' J.Agardh *''

Gracilaria millardetii ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' (Montagne) J.Agardh ** ''Gracilaria millardetii'' f. ''crenulata'' J.Agardh ** ''Gracilaria millardetii'' f. ''exposita'' Børgesen ** ''Gracilaria millardetii'' f. ''latifolia'' Børgesen ** ''Gracilaria millardetii'' f. ''linearifolia'' J.Agardh *'' Gracilaria minor'' (Sonder) Durairatnam *'' Gracilaria minuta'' Lewmanomont *''

Gracilaria mixta ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' I.A.Abbott, J.Zhang & B.M.Xia *'' Gracilaria multifurcata'' Børgesen *'' Gracilaria multipartita'' (Clemente) Harvey ** ''Gracilaria multipartita'' f. ''prolifera'' E.S.Sinova ** ''Gracilaria multipartita'' f. ''supernediliatata'' E.S.Sinova ** ''Gracilaria multipartita'' var. ''crispa'' (Clemente) Cremades ** ''Gracilaria multipartita'' var. ''elongata'' (Clemente) Cremades *'' Gracilaria occidentalis'' (Børgesen) M.Bodard *''

Gracilaria oliveirarum ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' Gurgel, Fredericq & J.N.Norris *''

Gracilaria opuntia ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae ( Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, Sout ...

'' Durairatnam *'' Gracilaria ornata'' Areschoug *'' Gracilaria pachydermatica'' Setchell & N.L.Gardner *'' Gracilaria pacifica'' I.A.Abbott *'' Gracilaria palmettoides'' P.Crouan & H.Crouan *''

Gracilaria papenfussii ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' I.A.Abbott *''

Gracilaria parva ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae ( Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, Sout ...

'' Freshwater, B.Williamson, P.W.Gabrielson & Margarita Brandt *''

Gracilaria parvispora ''Gracilaria parvispora'', also known by the common names long ogo, red ogo, or simply ogo, is a large species of marine red alga in the genus ''Gracilaria'', endemic to Hawaii. It is highly sought after as an edible seaweed and is popular in m ...

'' I.A.Abbott *'' Gracilaria patens'' P.Crouan & H.Crouan *''

Gracilaria pauciramosa ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' (N.Rodríguez de Ríos) A.M.Bellorin, M.C.Oliveira, & E.C.Oliveira *''

Gracilaria percurrens ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae ( Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, Sout ...

'' (I.A.Abbott) I.A.Abbott *'' Gracilaria perplexa'' K.Byrne & Zuccarello *'' Gracilaria peruana'' Piccone & Grunow *'' Gracilaria phuquocensis'' N.H.Le, N.Muangmai & G.C.Zuccarello *''

Gracilaria pinnata ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae ( Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, Sout ...

'' Setchell & N.L.Gardner *''

Gracilaria preissiana ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' (Sonder) Womersley *'' Gracilaria prolifica'' (Kützing) P.Crouan & H.Crouan *'' Gracilaria protea'' J.Agardh *''

Gracilaria pudumadamensis ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae ( Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, Sout ...

'' V.Krishnamurthy & N.R.Rajendran *'' Gracilaria pulvinata'' Skottsberg *''

Gracilaria punctata ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae ( Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, Sout ...

'' (Okamura) Yamada *'' Gracilaria pygmaea'' Børgesen *'' Gracilaria ramisecunda'' E.Y.Dawson *'' Gracilaria ramulosa'' (Martius) Greville *'' Gracilaria rangiferina'' (Kützing) Piccone *''

Gracilaria reptans ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' (Weber Bosse) P.C.Silva *'' Gracilaria rhodocaudata'' Yamamoto & Kudo *''

Gracilaria rhodymenioides ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae ( Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, Sout ...

'' A.J.K.Millar *'' Gracilaria robusta'' Setchell *''

Gracilaria rubra ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, South ...

'' C.F.Chang & B.M.Xia *''

Gracilaria rubrimembra ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae ( Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, Sout ...

'' E.Y.Dawson *''

Gracilaria salicornia ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, South ...

'' (C.Agardh) E.Y.Dawson *''

Gracilaria salzmannii ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' Bornet ex Möbius *'' Gracilaria secunda'' (C.Agardh) Zanardini *'' Gracilaria secundata'' Harvey *'' Gracilaria secundata'' Setchell & N.L.Gardner *'' Gracilaria shimodensis'' Terada, R.& Yamamoto, H. *'' Gracilaria silviae'' Lyra, Gurgel, M.C.Oliveira & J.M.C.Nunes *'' Gracilaria skottsbergii'' W.R.Taylor *''

Gracilaria spinigera ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae ( Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, Sout ...

'' E.Y.Dawson *'' Gracilaria spinuligera'' Børgesen *'' Gracilaria spinulosa'' (Okamura) Chang & B.-M.Xia *'' Gracilaria srilankia'' (C.F.Chang & B.M.Xia) A.F.Withell, A.J.K.Millar & Kraft *'' Gracilaria stellata'' I.A.Abbott, Zhang & B.M.Xia *''

Gracilaria stipitata ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' A.F.Withell, A.J.K.Millar & Kraft *'' Gracilaria sublittoralis'' Yamada & Segawa ex H.Yamamoto *'' Gracilaria subsecundata'' Setchell & N.L.Gardner *'' Gracilaria subtilis'' (B.M.Xia & I.A.Abbott) B.M.Xia & I.A.Abbott *''

Gracilaria sullivanii ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae ( Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, Sout ...

'' Yamamoto & Trono *''

Gracilaria suzanneae ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' L.P.Soares, C.F.D.Gurgel & M.T.Fujii *'' Gracilaria symmetrica'' E.Y.Dawson *'' Gracilaria taiwanensis'' S.-M.Lin, L.-C.Liu & Payri *'' Gracilaria tenuissima'' Croaun & Crouan *''

Gracilaria tenuistipitata ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae ( Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, Sout ...

'' C.F.Chang & B.-M.Xia ** ''Gracilaria tenuistipitata'' var. ''liui'' Zhang & Xia ** ''Gracilaria tenuistipitata'' var. ''tenuistipitata'' C.F.Chang & B.M.Xia *''

Gracilaria tepocensis ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, South ...

'' (E.Y.Dawson) E.Y.Dawson *'' Gracilaria textorii'' (Suringar) Hariot ** ''Gracilaria textorii'' f. ''tenuis'' V.May ** ''Gracilaria textorii'' var. ''cunninghamii'' (Farlow) E.Y.Dawson *'' Gracilaria tikvahiae'' McLachlan *'' Gracilaria transtasmanica'' (M.Preuss, N.Muangmai and Zuccarello) G. M.Lyra, C.Iha, J.M.C.Nunes, C.C.Davis *'' Gracilaria tridactylites'' P.Crouan & H.Crouan ex J.Agardh *'' Gracilaria truncata'' Kraft *''

Gracilaria tsudae ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' (I.A.Abbott & I.Meneses) I.A.Abbott *''

Gracilaria tuberculosa ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae ( Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, Sout ...

'' (Hampe ex Kützing) J.Agardh *'' Gracilaria turgida'' E.Y.Dawson *''

Gracilaria tuticorinensis ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' V.Krishnamurthy & Rajendran *'' Gracilaria urvillei'' (Montagne) I.A.Abbott *'' Gracilaria usneoides'' (C.Agardh) J.Agardh ** ''Gracilaria usneoides'' var. ''succosa'' J.Agardh *'' Gracilaria vanbosseae'' (I.A.Abbott) I.A.Abbott *'' Gracilaria veloroae'' E.Y.Dawson *''

Gracilaria venezuelensis ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' W.R.Taylor *''

Gracilaria vermiculata ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' P.J.L.Dangeard *'' Gracilaria vermiculophylla'' (Ohmi) Papenfuss ** ''Gracilaria vermiculophylla'' var. ''zhengii'' (J.F.Zhang & B.M.Xia) Yoshida ** ''Gracilaria verrucosa'' var. ''procerrima'' (Esper) M.P.Reis ** ''Gracilaria verrucosa'' var. ''ramulosa'' (C.Agardh) M.P.Reis *'' Gracilaria vieillardii'' P.C.Silva *''

Gracilaria vieirae ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' M.P.Reis *'' Gracilaria viridis'' A.Sfriso, M.A.Wolf, K.Sciuto, M.Morabito, C.Andreoli & I.Moro *''

Gracilaria vivesii ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae (red algae, Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among ...

'' M.Howe *''

Gracilaria webervanbosseae ''Gracilaria'' is a genus of red algae ( Rhodophyta) notable for its economic importance as an agarophyte, as well as its use as a food for humans and various species of shellfish. Various species within the genus are cultivated among Asia, Sout ...

'' Huisman & G.W.Saunders *'' Gracilaria wrightii'' (Turner) J.Agardh *'' Gracilaria xiae-abbotii'' G.M.Lyra, J.M.C.Nunes & C.C.Davis *'' Gracilaria yamamotoi'' Zhang & B.M.Xia *'' Gracilaria yinggehaiensis'' Xia & Wang *'' Gracilaria yoneshigueana'' Gurgel, Fredericq & J.N.Norris S

Distribution

''Gracilaria'' are found in warm waters throughout the world, though they also occur seasonally in temperate waters. It can not tolerate temperatures below . ''Gracilaria'' are found in all oceans except the

Arctic The Arctic ( or ) is a polar regions of Earth, polar region located at the northernmost part of Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean, adjacent seas, and parts of Canada (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut), Danish Realm (Greenla ...

. Its center of diversity is the Western Pacific, where it has been traditionally cultivated as a source of

agar Agar ( or ), or agar-agar, is a jelly-like substance consisting of polysaccharides obtained from the cell walls of some species of red algae, primarily from ogonori (''Gracilaria'') and "tengusa" (''Gelidiaceae''). As found in nature, agar is ...

Use

''Gracilaria'' is used as a food in

Filipino Filipino may refer to: * Something from or related to the Philippines ** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines. ** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...

, Hawaiian,

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

, and

Korean cuisine Korean cuisine has evolved through centuries of social and political change. Originating from ancient agricultural and nomadic traditions in Korea and southern Manchuria, Korean cuisine reflects a complex interaction of the natural envi ...

s. In Japanese cuisine, it is called ''ogonori'' or ''ogo''. In the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

, it is called ''

gulaman ''Gulaman'', in Filipino cuisine, is a bar, or powdered form, of dried agar or carrageenan used to make jelly-like desserts. In common usage, it also usually refers to the refreshment ''sago't gulaman'', sometimes referred to as ''samalamig'' ...

'' and used to make

gelatin Gelatin or gelatine (from la, gelatus meaning "stiff" or "frozen") is a translucent, colorless, flavorless food ingredient, commonly derived from collagen taken from animal body parts. It is brittle when dry and rubbery when moist. It may also ...

. In

Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...

, it is known as ''Irish moss''. In Korea, it is known as ''kkosiraegi''. ''Gracilaria''

oligosaccharide An oligosaccharide (/ˌɑlɪgoʊˈsækəˌɹaɪd/; from the Greek ὀλίγος ''olígos'', "a few", and σάκχαρ ''sácchar'', "sugar") is a saccharide polymer containing a small number (typically two to ten) of monosaccharides (simple sugar ...

s with

degree of polymerization The degree of polymerization, or DP, is the number of monomeric units in a macromolecule or polymer or oligomer molecule. For a homopolymer, there is only one type of monomeric unit and the ''number-average'' degree of polymerization is given by ...

6 prepared by

agarase Agarase (, ''AgaA'', ''AgaB'', ''endo-beta-agarase'', ''agarose 3-glycanohydrolase'') is an enzyme with List of enzymes, systematic name ''agarose 4-glycanohydrolase''. It is found in agarolytic bacteria and is the first enzyme in the agar cataboli ...

digestion from agar-bearing ''Gracilaria'' sp.

polysaccharide Polysaccharides (), or polycarbohydrates, are the most abundant carbohydrates found in food. They are long chain polymeric carbohydrates composed of monosaccharide units bound together by glycosidic linkages. This carbohydrate can react with wa ...

s have been shown to be an effective prophylactic agent during ''

in vitro ''In vitro'' (meaning in glass, or ''in the glass'') studies are performed with microorganisms, cells, or biological molecules outside their normal biological context. Colloquially called "test-tube experiments", these studies in biology an ...

'' and ''

in vivo Studies that are ''in vivo'' (Latin for "within the living"; often not italicized in English) are those in which the effects of various biological entities are tested on whole, living organisms or cells, usually animals, including humans, and ...

'' experiments against

Japanese encephalitis Japanese encephalitis (JE) is an infection of the brain caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). While most infections result in little or no symptoms, occasional inflammation of the brain occurs. In these cases, symptoms may include he ...

viral infection. The sulfated oligosaccharides from ''Gracilaria'' sp. seem to be promising candidates for further development as antiviral agents. In Japan, ''Gracilaria'' has been used to produce ''funori'' (), an agar-based glue, since the 17th century.

Aquarium trade

''Gracilaria'' commonly appears as a macroalgae for sale in the aquarium trade. It is a highly palatable algae to

tangs TANGS is a department store located on Orchard Road in Singapore, owned by C.K. Tang Limited. The store is regarded as a principal shopping destination in the city, comparable to Bloomingdale's in New York City and Selfridges Selfridges, a ...

and many other herbivorous fish, and its nutrient uptake ability makes it a suitable choice for a refugium.

Ecology

''Gracilaria'' are susceptible to infection by the

parasitic Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The entomologist E. O. Wilson has c ...

oomycete Oomycota forms a distinct phylogenetic lineage of fungus-like eukaryotic microorganisms, called oomycetes (). They are filamentous and heterotrophic, and can reproduce both sexually and asexually. Sexual reproduction of an oospore is the resul ...

Pythium porphyrae ''Pythium porphyrae'', is a parasitism, parasitic species of oomycete in the family Pythiaceae. It is the cause of red rot disease or red wasting disease, also called ' () in Japanese language, Japanese. The Botanical name, specific epithet '' ...

''. Reproduction by ''Gracilaria gracilis'' is supported by ''

Idotea balthica ''Idotea balthica'' is a species of marine isopod which lives on seaweed and seagrass in the subtidal zone of rocky shores and sandy lagoons. Distribution ''Idotea balthica'' has a broad geographical distribution, having been recorded from the ...

'' – the first known case of an animal helping algae reproduce.

References

External links

Gracilaria and its Cultivation
(archived at the Internet Archive)
Gracilaria in the Suria Link Sea Plants Handbook
(archived at the Internet Archive) {{Taxonbar, from=Q3087307 Red algae genera Edible algae Seaweeds Gracilariales Edible seaweeds Marine biota of Asia Marine biota of North America