Charophyta

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The Charophyta are a division of green algae, including the closest relatives of the embryophyte plants. Because they exclude the embryophytes, they make a paraphyletic group (though they are occasionally restricted to simply the Charales or stoneworts, which are monophyletic). In some groups such as conjugating green algae, flagellate cells do not occur. The latter group does engage in sexual reproduction, but motility does not involve flagella, which are totally lacking. Flagellate cells in the form of sperm are found in stoneworts (scientific name Charales) and in the group with the scientific name Coleochaetales (there is no common name).

References

Lewis, L.A, McCourt, R.M. (2004) Green algae and the origin of land plants. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 91 (10): 1535-1556 OCT

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