IRISH

MOSS, or CARRAGEEN (Irish carraigeen, " moss of the

See also:

• ROCK
• ROCK (O.Fr. rake, Sp. rota, Ital. rocca; possibly from a Lat. form rupica, from rupes, rock)
• ROCK, DANIEL (1799–187t)

rock ")  , a sea-weed (Chondrus crispus) which grows abundantly along the rocky parts of the Atlantic coast of Europe and North America . In its fresh condition the plant is soft and cartilaginous, varying in colour from a greenish-yellow to a dark purple or purplish-brown; but when washed and sun-dried for preservation it has a yellowish translucent horn-like aspect and consistency . The principal constituent of Irish moss is a mucilaginous body, of which it contains about 55%; and with that it has nearly To % of albuminoids and about 1,5% of mineral matter rich in iodine and sulphur . When softened in water it has a sea-like odour, and from the abundance of its mucilage it will form a jelly on boiling with from 20 to 30 times its weight of water . The jelly of Irish moss is used as an occasional article of food . It may also be used as a thickener in calico-printing and for fining beer . Irish moss is frequently mixed with Gigartina mammillosa, G. acicularis and other sea-weeds with which it is associated in growth .