Charales

(noun)

green algae in the division Charophyta which are green plants believed to be the closest relatives of the green land plants

Related Terms

Examples of Charales in the following topics:

  • Charales

    • Algae in the order Charales live in fresh water and are often considered the closest-living relatives of embryophytes.
    • The Charales can be traced as far back as 420 million years.
    • In Charales, large cells form the thallus: the main stem of the alga.
    • Unlike land plants, Charales do not undergo alternation of generations in their lifecycle.
    • Like embryophytes, Charales exhibit a number of traits that are significant in their adaptation to land life.