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Plant
Identification
Muskgrass, Chara
 Description Management
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Photos
Chara
spp.
Chara is often called
muskgrass or skunkweed because of its foul, musty almost garlic-like
odor. Chara is a gray-green branched multicellular algae that
is often confused with submerged flowering plants. However, Chara
has no flower, will not extend above the water surface, and often
has a "grainy" or "crunchy" texture. Chara has cylindrical,
whorled branches with 6 to 16 branchlets around each node.
Submerged portions of
all aquatic plants provide habitats for many micro and macro
invertebrates. These invertebrates in turn are used
as food by fish and other wildlife species (e.g. amphibians,
reptiles, ducks, etc.). After aquatic plants die, their decomposition
by bacteria and fungi provides food (called detritusE for
many aquatic invertebrates. Chara is consumed by many species
of ducks.
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" indicates Non-Native plants.