Chara

Scientific name

Chara L.

Common names

muskgrass, stonewort

Family

Characeae

Similar genera

Ceratophyllum, Najas, Nitella

Native distribution

cosmopolitancosmopolitan:
(adj) essentially worldwide in distribution

Species cultivated

Chara vulgaris L.

Adventive distribution

none

Weed status

not weedy

Habit

submersed, highly branched macroscopic alga

Brief description

Alga with cylindricalcylindrical:
(adj) forming a nearly true cylinder
, hollow, stem-like branches and 6-16 whorledwhorled:
(n) bearing whorls; a type of leaf arrangement (phyllotaxis) in which leaves are in whorls
secondary branches at nodal regions. Bearing short or long stipulodes and bractbract:
(n) a modified leaf near a flower or inflorescence, often reduced, sometimes large and/or petaloid; also glumes, lemmas, and paleae of grass spikelets
cells. Branches ribbed. OogoniaOogonia:
(n) (pl. oogonia) the female reproductive organ in some algae and fungi, consisting of a large cell that produces female gametes
produced in axils of branchlets.

Natural habitat

lakes, ponds, rivers

Additional comments

Chara and Nitella are freshwater, multicellular, branched macroalgaemacroalgae:
(n) (sing. macroalga) large algae; seaweeds
in the order Charales that are commonly confused with flowering aquatic plants. Chara can be distinguished from Nitella by its musky odor and gritty, bristly feel. Chara contains 244 currently accepted species.