Charophyceae

class of green algae
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://mainten.top/science/Charophyceae
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

Charophyceae, class of green algae (division Chlorophyta) commonly found in fresh water. The taxonomy of the group is contentious, and the class is sometimes placed in its own division, Charophyta. Charophyceae is thought to be the closest extant group of organisms ancestral to bryophytes (primitive terrestrial plants).

Members can be unicellular (desmids), filamentous (Spirogyra), colonial, or multicellular and plantlike (stoneworts). Many species have flagellated cells and store starch in characteristic plastids.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.