Charophytes

Charophytes Latest News

Research conducted at 27 test lakes in northeastern Germany revealed that the abundance of charophytes increased. 

About Charophytes

• Charophytes are a type of green algae.
• Fossils of Charophytes have been found going back to the Silurian Period (443 million years ago).
  • This was the period when plants moved from water to land—and Charophytes are considered the closest living relatives to land plants.
• Habitat: Charophytes grow in silt, mud, peat or sand, often as the first plants to colonize newly-cleared areas.
• Distribution: These “plants” are found on all continents except Antarctica.

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Features of Charophyte

• They have no true leaves, stems nor fruits.
• These are generally submergent and are loosely attached to the sediment by thin rhizome- like structures called ‘holdfasts’.
• Seeds can remain dormant for years.
• Charophytes have been found in water as deep as 213 feet.
• They are unable to grow or are restricted in growth in turbid or murky waters.

Benefits of Charophyte

• Charophytes are underwater plants that play a crucial role in the water quality and biodiversity of lakes;
• They stabilize the lake bed, produce oxygen, promote water clarity, and provide habitat for numerous aquatic organisms.

Source: PHYS