Nutritional Freshwater Life
20
Calothrix fusca Bornet & Flahault 1886
Order: Nostocales
Family: Rivulariaceae
Common name: Blue-green alga.
Distribution: Arctic, Ireland, Europe,
North America, South America, Southwest Asia, Australia and New Zealand,
Pacific islands (AlgaeBase).
Habitat: Freshwater/terrestrial species.
Description: Filaments are single or
in small groups. They are unbranched
or with occasional false branching.
Trichome is straight or bent, ending in
a distinct hair. Cells near the base measure 7–8  µm wide. Sheath is colorless.
This species is a dietary supplement
(John, 2002).
Nutritional Facts
Proximate Composition (% DM)
CHO a Protein Amino Acid Lipid
18.5
1.6
2.5
10.5
a Carbohydrate.
Minerals (µg/ml)
Ca
Mn
Fe
Zn
Ni
Mg
38.9 204.8 4779 94.0 13.2 13,350
Source: Data from Rajeshwari and
Rajashekhar (2011).