Charophyta
Encyclopedia
The Charophyta are a division of green algae
, including the closest relatives of the embryophyte
plants. In some groups, such as conjugating green algae, flagellate
cells do not occur. The latter group does engage in sexual reproduction, and motility does not involve flagella, since they are totally lacking. Flagellate cells in the form of sperm are found in stoneworts (Charales
) and Coleochaetales
.
or stoneworts, which are monophyletic). The Charophyta plus the embryophytes make up the Streptophyta, which is a monophyletic group.
Chara aspera Deth. ex Wild. var. aspera Ireland: Counties Down, Antrim and Londonderry.
Green algae
The green algae are the large group of algae from which the embryophytes emerged. As such, they form a paraphyletic group, although the group including both green algae and embryophytes is monophyletic...
, including the closest relatives of the embryophyte
Embryophyte
The land plants or embryophytes, more formally Embryophyta or Metaphyta, are the most familiar group of plants. They are called 'land plants' because they live primarily in terrestrial habitats, in contrast with the related green algae that are primarily aquatic. The embryophytes include trees,...
plants. In some groups, such as conjugating green algae, flagellate
Flagellate
Flagellates are organisms with one or more whip-like organelles called flagella. Some cells in animals may be flagellate, for instance the spermatozoa of most phyla. Flowering plants do not produce flagellate cells, but ferns, mosses, green algae, some gymnosperms and other closely related plants...
cells do not occur. The latter group does engage in sexual reproduction, and motility does not involve flagella, since they are totally lacking. Flagellate cells in the form of sperm are found in stoneworts (Charales
Charales
Charales is an order of pondweeds, freshwater algae in the division Charophyta. They are green plants believed to be the closest relatives of the green land plants. Linnaeus established the genus Chara in 1753.-Description:...
) and Coleochaetales
Coleochaetales
The Coleochaetales are an order of parenchymous charophyte algae, so they represents one of the most primitive multicellular relatives of land plants.They questionably include the fossil genus Parka....
.
Classification
Because they exclude the embryophytes, the Charophyta make a paraphyletic group (although the division Charophyta is occasionally restricted to simply the CharalesCharales
Charales is an order of pondweeds, freshwater algae in the division Charophyta. They are green plants believed to be the closest relatives of the green land plants. Linnaeus established the genus Chara in 1753.-Description:...
or stoneworts, which are monophyletic). The Charophyta plus the embryophytes make up the Streptophyta, which is a monophyletic group.
Distribution
List of species.Chara aspera Deth. ex Wild. var. aspera Ireland: Counties Down, Antrim and Londonderry.