STONEWORT

any of certain green algae of the class Charophyceae, characterized by calcium carbonate deposits as found in the genus Chara. These deposits may be so extensive that they form the major part of the calcareous marl of lakes. Superficially resembling the structures of higher plants, stonewort structures include rootlike rhizoids, whorls of branches at regular intervals, and an erect cylindrical axis surrounded by a sheath of small cells. In sexual reproduction each female sex organ (oogonium) contains one large, immobile egg, and each male sex organ (antheridium) produces one small, biflagellate sperm. An envelope of sterile cells surrounds the reproductive structures. No motile spores are formed. Phylogenetically, stoneworts are probably a highly modified branch of the green algae. They are submerged and attached to the muddy bottoms of fresh or brackish rivers and lakes. Except for Chara, which is sometimes a detrimental weed in fish hatcheries, stoneworts are of little importance to man.