Muskgrass

Chara spp. · Algae

Out of the water · Photo: Michelle W. （鍾偉瑋） / CC BY

NativeMacroalgae (chara, nitella)Stonewort

Also called Chara vulgaris, Stonewort, chara, Skunkweed, Moss, Chara, Chara globularis, Muskgrass (chara)

How to identify Muskgrass

Looks like a rootless plant with whorls of stiff branchlets at regular joints along the stem
Strong musky or garlic like smell when crushed
Gritty, crunchy feel from a lime crust, often gray green
Anchored to the bottom by pale threads, not true roots

Similar species

Nitella is smooth, glossy and has no musky smell; coontail and other plants have true leaves, roots and flowers.

Growth profile

Season	Grows from spring through summer, can form dense meadows by midsummer, and often stays green near the bottom through winter.
Starts	About 50 F water with good light reaching the bottom
Light	Needs clear water; low light limits it to shallows
Depth	Bottom meadows from 1 to 15 feet, deeper in very clear water
How it spreads or reproduces	Fragments and small spores (oospores) that survive drying; carried by waterfowl and gear
Habitat	Ponds, lakes, reservoirs and spring fed waters with clear, hard or alkaline water over sand, silt or marl bottoms.

Why it matters in a lake

Common in new and clear ponds and often a sign of good water clarity. Dense beds can fill shallow ponds, and the lime crust makes it feel like a crusty carpet.