What is "eucheuma"

Eucheuma or Guso in the Philippines is a group of red seaweeds/seaplants representing the Tribe Eucheumatoideae used in the production of carrageenan, an important product used in cosmetics, food processing, and industrial uses, as well as a food source for those living in Indonesia and the Philippines. Eucheuma Cottonii is the particular species cultivated in the Philippines known as Guso. Some of the most significant species include Betaphycus gelatinae, Eucheuma denticulatum, and several species of the genus Kappaphycus including K. alvarezii. Since the mid-1970s, Kappaphycus and Eucheuma have been the major source for the expansion of the carrageenan industry.

Though commercially significant, species of eucheuma are difficult to identify without the aid of close scientific examination, as different species may have very similar morphologies. It is assumed that eighteen to twenty species alone fall within the genus Eucheuma, represented by the groups Cottoniformia, Eucheuma, Gelatiformia, and Anaxiferae.