Kappaphycus is a genus of red algae. Species are distributed in the waters of East Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hainan Island, the Philippines, and Micronesia.[1]
| Kappaphycus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Kappaphycus alvarezii | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| (unranked): | Archaeplastida |
| Division: | Rhodophyta |
| Class: | Florideophyceae |
| Order: | Gigartinales |
| Family: | Solieriaceae |
| Genus: | Kappaphycus Doty |
| Species | |
|
about 6, see text | |
Genus Kappaphycus is "morphologically plastic",[2] with few visible characters that can be used to separate the taxa, so distinguishing the species can be difficult. In addition, many commercial varieties have been bred. Molecular analyses can be used.[2][3][4]
In general, these algae have fleshy thalli that grow erect from one or more anchors. The longest individuals can exceed a meter in length. All species produce kappa-carrageenan.[1] Farming of this is a large business in the Philippines. Gavino Trono is a Filipino biologist dubbed the “Father of Kappaphycus farming”.[5]
Kappaphycus alvarezii is widely cultivated as a raw source of carrageenan, and other species are used, as well. Several Kappaphycus are invasive species.[6]
There are about 6 species:[1]