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Indian Journal of Plant Sciences ISSN: 2319-3824 (Online)An Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/jps.htm2013 Vol. 2 (2) April-June, pp.35-55/Nithyavathi and BalasinghResearch Articleinfluences the growth of charophytes in freshwater ecosystems. Factors such as temperature,light intensity, calcium, higher pH and alkalinity concentration influenced the growth andformation of sex organs in Chara species (Vestergaard and Sand Jensen, 2000; Joye et al., 2002).Smith (1955) has also reported that charophytes respond to salinity, acidity, alkalinity, lightintensity and altitude variation.In the present observation the genus Chara with 9 species and Nitella with 15 species werecollected and their seasonal distribution is shown in Table 2. It was noted that Chara contraria,C.vulgaris and Nitella furcata were cosmopolitan in distribution (Wood and Imahori, 1965;Khan and Sarma, 1984). Goldi (1988) carried out a study on Nitella flagelliformis and N. furcatacollected from two freshwater stations of Kanyakumari District. Nithyavathy et al. haveobserved Chara vulgaris and C.hydropitys in Kanyakumari district as common freshwatermacroalgae. Sukumaran et al. (2010) identified Nitella leptodactyla, N. opaca, N. acuminata var.belangeri, N. dictyosperma, N. furcata, Chara benthami, C. hydropitys and C. vulgaris in thewater bodies of sacred groves of Kalkulam and Vilavancode Taluks of Kanyakumari District.Nitella opaca, N. dictyosperma, N. furcata and Chara vulgaris, were reported as dominant.Shamel (2011) also found Chara zeylanica and Chara hydropitys in her studies on green algae.In S 3 Chara zeylanica was collected throughout the study period with globule and nucule. Thefavourable pH, moderate level of alkalinity and calcium rich water of the station may be thereason for its abundant growth. Seasonal distribution showed maximum number of Nitella andChara species during northeast monsoon season. Rich nitrogen and calcium elements in S 8 alsofavour Chara benthami, Nitella burmanica, N. oligospira, N. leptodactyla, N. gracilis to producesex organs during northeast and non monsoon seasons. The tropical climate, favorable soil typesand good seasonal conditions of the district may be the reason for the significant seasonaldistribution and diversity of charophytes. The observed Characeae species were taxonomicallydistinct and are illustrated in Figures1-24.Plant descriptionsChara L.Stems corticated or ecorticated ; branches limited usually one at a node; branchlets simple inwhorls at the nodes; antheridia lateral; coronula of oogonium has five cells in single tier;stipulodes present at the base of the branchlets.Chara hydropitys Reich.Plants monoecious, long, 486-580µ thick, long stipulodes in single series, 11 branchlets in awhorl, branchlets 5-7 segmented, lowermost and some of the uppermost segments areecorticated. It was collected from S 1 , S 4 and S 7. It was reported with sex organs during themonths of non-monsoon season. In Tamil Nadu, it was previously observed in Coimbatore,Vandalur, Adayar, Singaperumalkoil and Thirukalikundram (Figure 1).C. flaccida Braun.Plants monoecious, small, stem slender, 390µ thick, corticated, well developed stipulodesforming a single whorl, 8-12 branchlets in a whorl, branchlets incurved and 4-6 segmentedecorticated. It was collected from S 4 . Sex organs were observed during non-monsoon season. InTamil Nadu, it was previously observed in Vandalur, Red hills, Ennore, Guduvancheri andSingaperumalkoil (Figure 2).36
Indian Journal of Plant Sciences ISSN: 2319-3824 (Online)An Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/jps.htm2013 Vol. 2 (2) April-June, pp.35-55/Nithyavathi and BalasinghResearch ArticleC. benthami Braun.Plant monoecious, incrusted, moderately thick, 482µ diameter, well developed stipulodes insingle row, internodes corticated and branchlets 8-12 in a whorl, ecorticated. It was collectedfrom S 4 , S 7 and S 8 .The species produced sex organs during northeast monsoon and non-monsoonseasons. In India, it was previously reported in Culcutta, Dhapdhapi, Agarpara and Bengal(Figure 3).C. fibrosa Ag. Ex. Bruz.Plant monoecious, delicate, 324µ thick, fibrous, pale green in colour, 9-12 thin bristle likebranchlets in each whorl, branchlets 3-4 segmented. It was collected from S 6 . The specimenswere reported with sex organs during the months of non-monsoon season (Figure 4).C. erythrogyna W.Griffith.Plant monoecious, small sized, robust form, beautifully clustered, yellowish green in colour, 9-12 branchlets in a whorl, branchlets 3-4 segmented. It was collected from S 2 . It produced sexorgans during non-monsoon season (Figure 5).C. contraria Kutzing.Plants monoecious, heavily incrusted, stem stout, 750µ thick, corticated stipulodes in doublewhorl, internodes long and 6-10 branchlets in a whorl, partially corticated. It was collected fromS 4 . It was reported with sex organs during the months of non-monsoon season. In India, it waspreviously reported in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh (Figure 6).C. vulgaris Linn.Plants monoecious, stem about 500µ thick, very long, corticated stipulodes in double whorl,internodes about 7cm long, 7-9 branchlets in each whorl, branchlets 6-8 segmented and recurved,partially corticated sometimes entirely ecorticated. It was collected from S 4 . Sex organ wereobserved during non-monsoon season. In India, it was previously reported in Bihar, Agra, andPoona. (Figure 7)C. delicatula (Agardh) A. Braun.Plants monoecious, long, 672µ thick, corticated, stipulodes in double whorl, branchlets 8-11 ineach whorl, branchlets 6 segmented, extreme segments are ecorticated. It was collected from S 4and S 5 . Sex organs were reported during the months of northeast and non-monsoon seasons in S 4and only during non-monsoon season in S 5. In India, it was previously observed in (U.P) Banaras(Figure 8).C. zeylanica Willdenow.Plants monoecious, long; stem stout, 700-800µ thick, heavily incrusted, corticated, stipulodes intwo series, internodes 1-3 times the length of the branchlets, 11 spreading branchlets in eachwhorl, branchlets 6-7 segmented, basal segment ecorticated. It was collected from S 3 . In TamilNadu, previously it was observed in Red hills, Guduvancheri, Tiruvellore, Chengalput, Vandalurand Pamban (Figure9).Nitella Agardh (em.Leonh.).Stem ecorticated; branchlets forked, arise in whorls at the nodes; oogonia lateral; coronula ofoogonium has ten cells in two tiers; stipulodes absent.Nitella hyalina (De Cond.) Agardh.Plants about 13cm long, branchlets two types, primary branchlets 2 times furcated, accessorybranchlets simple, antheridium and oogonium at the same node. It was collected from S 1 . It wasreported with sex organs during northeast monsoon season .In Tamil Nadu, it was previously37
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