Irish moss & carrageenan

[Ken Kinman]

     I've never seen the term "sea moss", but Irish Moss  usually refers to
a red alga, Chondrus crispus (Phylum Rhodophyta, Class Florideophycea).  I
suppose it could be dried and stained as easily as Sertularia, but I am just
guessing.  Since is it widely used in food processing and medicines,
Chondrus crispus would certainly be readily available for other purposes
(maybe even railway model scenery???).  In any case, I'm sure most of our
diets contain Chondrus crispus "derivatives" (especially carrageenan in ice
cream).
                   ------Ken Kinman
P.S.  Legal Disclaimer (in a litigious society):  The statements above are
NOT intended to imply in any way that railway model vegetational scenery is
edible.  :-)
**********************************************************
>From: Jan Bosselaers <dochterland at VILLAGE.UUNET.BE>
>Reply-To: Jan Bosselaers <dochterland at VILLAGE.UUNET.BE>
>To: TAXACOM at USOBI.ORG
>Subject: Re: What is Sea moss?
>Date: Tue, 2 Nov 1999 13:08:33 +0100
>
>Dear Börge,
>
> > What is Sea Moss that is used by railway model builders to make trees? I
> > believe that Irish Moss is another name for the same material.
> > Many thanks in advance for any hint.
>
>Often they sell Lichens like Cladonia spp. for the purpose, but when it
>is called "Sea Moss" I guess it may be a Bryozoan, or more probably
>still a hydroid polyp like Sertularia sp. (e.g. Sertularia abietina).
>Collins Pocket Guide to the Sea shore says about Sertularia: "dried and
>stained and sold for decorative purposes" Well, decorative is open to
>debate, judging from some applications I saw in shop windows.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Jan
>--------------------------------------------------------------
>Jan Bosselaers
>"Dochterland", R. novarumlaan 2
>B-2340 Beerse, Belgium                       tel 32-14-615896
>home: dochterland at village.uunet.be           fax 32-14-610306
>work: jbossela at janbe.jnj.com
>web: http://gallery.uunet.be/Dochterland/
>"Aging is a disease, and I hate it" Christian Barnard

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com