Floridean Starch of a Calcareous Red Alga*, Joculator maximus

Abstract

The content of Floridean starch in a calcareous red alga, Joculator maximus, was as high as approximately 3 per cent of dried fronds, and was not influenced by the season. The starch was easily isolated from the aqueous extract in a high yield by removing concomitant mucilage-nous impurities with benzalkonium chloride. The [α]¹⁰_D value in water of the starch was +195.5°, and its iodine complex showed an absorption maximum at 550 mμ. The starch comsumed 1.06 mole of periodate and released 0.06 mole of formic acid per anhydroglucose unit, suggesting that it contains no significant amount of 1, 3-linkage and that an average chain length is approximately 17. Methylation data also excluded the existence of 1, 3-linkage.