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Chara (Stonewort)
Chara sp.
Family: Characeae
📍 Worldwide in clear, hard freshwater lakes
Not a true alga but a charophyte — an evolutionary stepping stone between algae and land plants. Whorled branches on brittle stems; produces a distinctive musky smell when crushed. Tolerates very hard, alkaline water that many plants cannot. Often kept deliberately in biotope setups for its unique look.
Keeping this species
- note
- calcifies in hard water giving a gritty texture; emits sulfurous smell
- role
- occasional nuisance / biotope species
- lightLevel
- medium
- temperature
- 50–68°F (10–20°C)
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Temperature
50–68°F
10–20°C
Natural Habitat Temperature
50°F — 70°F seasonal range · (Jan low, Jul high)