Charophytes

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: They 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.
• 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.
  • They are unable to grow or are restricted in growth in turbid or murky waters.
• Benefits of Charophyte:
  • They 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.