Common Stonewort

Chara vulgaris, also called the common stonewort, is a species of charophyte green alga. It is one of the most widespread species of the genus Chara and occurs across much of Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and Australia.

The thallus of Chara vulgaris is macroscopic and highly organized, consisting of a main axis differentiated into nodes and elongated internodes. At each node, a whorl of branchlets is produced. The organism is anchored to the substrate by rhizoids. The species is relatively polymorphic in its organization.

The species is of ecological importance in aquatic environments. It is particularly common in alkaline waters rich in calcium bicarbonate (CaCO3) and can tolerate moderate eutrophication, although dense populations are often associated with relatively clear water conditions.