Algae and Plants
29
made up of rows of cells measuring
1.3–2.0  µm diameter and 1.5–3.0  µm
long. The tip of the trichome oscillates
like a pendulum. This species serves
as a good food supplement (Sharp,
1969).
Nutritional Facts
Proximate Composition (% DM)
CHO a Protein
Amino
Acid Lipid
O. acuminata 14.0
5.5
5.5
14.0
O. calcuttensis
9.6
2.2
2.1
20.0
O. foreaui
8.0
5.5
5.5
8.0
a Carbohydrate.
Minerals (µg/ml)
Ca
Mn
Fe
Zn
Ni
Mg
O. acuminata
15.2
161.9
3365
53.0
5.4 21,050
O. calcuttensis
13.6
255.7
2238
80.0
5.8 18,600
O. foreaui
57.7
539.2
6402
211.2
9.4 12,812
Source: Data from Rajeshwari and Rajashekhar (2011).
PhyLuM: CharoPhyta (Stonewort aLGae)
Spirogyra sp.
Phylum: Charophyta
Class: Zygnematophyceae
Order: Zygnematales
Family: Zygnemataceae
Distribution: Worldwide (Graphics and
Web Programming Team, 2003).
Habitat: Quiet freshwater, streams,
and lakes.
Description: Thalli are composed of
unbranched uniseriate filaments intertwined to form skeins. Cells are cylindrical, 10 to >200 µm in diameter, most
20–60 µm, and up to several times as long.
Cell wall is two-layered with inner cellulose, outer mucilage layer that makes filaments very slimy to touch. End walls are
plane, and there are no flagellated stages.