Chara is a
genus of
green algae in the family
Characeae. They are multicellular and superficially resemble land plants because of
stem-like and
leaf-like structures. They are found in fresh water, particularly in limestone areas throughout the northern temperate zone, where they grow submerged, attached to the muddy bottom. They prefer less oxygenated and hard water and are not found in waters where mosquito larvae are present. They are covered with calcium carbonate deposits.
Cyanobacteria have been found growing as epiphytes on the surfaces of
Chara, where they may be involved in fixing
nitrogen, which is important to plant nutrition.