Chara Vulgaris

Chara vulgaris, known as the common stonewort, is a species of charophyte green alga in the class Charophyceae and family Characeae. It typically grows to about 50 centimeters long, is greyish green to green in color, and is often moderately encrusted with calcium carbonate. Its structure has a main axis differentiated into nodes and elongated internodes, with whorls of branchlets at each node, anchored to the substrate by rhizoids. It is widely distributed across Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and Australia, making it one of the most widespread species in the genus Chara. It grows in freshwater ponds, ditches, and littoral pools, favoring alkaline water rich in calcium bicarbonate, and can survive to depths of about one meter with some tolerance for moderate salinity and eutrophication, though dense populations are usually associated with clear water. Chara vulgaris forms underwater meadows that provide habitat for invertebrates and shelter for fish larvae.