Graceful Redweed Graceful Redweed Graceful Redweed is one of 7000 species of colonial red algae. Graceful Redweed is often found on the beach wrack line and can be greenish to bright red.  They have 12-inch forked branches that can be flat or round resembling spaghetti. Graceful Redweed may grow free floating or attached to a hard surface from the water’s surface to 30 feet deep. Under high light and nutrient conditions, it can become a huge biomass causing habitat destruction. Beaches in Lee County, FL were fouled in 2003-2004. Graceful Redweed is important for the production of the hydrocolloids carrageenan and agar which provide texture, thickening, gelling or structure to many foods and medicines. A few examples are toothpaste, processed cheese, marmalade, salad dressing, ice cream and non-stick bandages. This plant is also eaten as a vegetable.  Have you had some seaweed today? Graceful Redweed is also a potential energy-producing plant as it is fast growing and can be used to produce methane. Live shells should never be taken from any Florida State Park.