Chara (alga)

Common card · No. 491971

Chara is a genus of charophyte green algae in the family Characeae. They are multicellular and superficially resemble land plants because of stem-like and leaf-like structures. They are found in freshwater, particularly in limestone areas throughout the northern temperate zone, where they grow submerged, attached to the muddy bottom. They prefer less oxygenated and hard water and are generally not found in waters where mosquito larvae are present. The species are covered with calcium carbonate (CaCO3) deposits and are hence commonly known as stoneworts. Cyanobacteria have been found growing as epiphytes on the surfaces of Chara, where they may be involved in fixing nitrogen, which is important to plant nutrition.

Read on Wikipedia · Image Christian Fischer, CC BY-SA 3.0