Hypnea musciformis contains agaran and carrageenan/agaran hybrids as minor constituents. Several different fractions can be isolated from the KCl-soluble polysaccharides. A novel sugar, namely 3-C-carboxy-d-erythrose is a constituent of the current galactans. The novel sugar appears attached to O-6 of β-d-Gal units as β-furanosic single stubs. This novel sugar has also been found in equivalent fractions from other carrageenophytes.