The polysaccharide extracted from Kallymenia berggrenii was found to b
e a non-gelling partially sulphated and partially methylated galactan
with a structure reasonably closely related to other polysaccharides w
hich have been extracted from seaweeds in the order Cryptonemiales. Th
e polysaccharide contained L-galactose, approximately 25% 3,6-anhydro-
L-galactose, of which approximately 1/3 was the 2-O-methyl ether, appr
oximately 6% of 6-O-methyl-D-galactose and 1% of 2-O-methyl-D-galactos
e. Sulphate esters were most likely present at most if not all availab
le hydroxyl groups, including the 3-position, and the variety of sulph
ate substitution could indicate that sulphation was occurring almost r
andomly.