Stoneworts are a member of the charophyte group of green freshwater algae, and they only live in very clean water. Stoneworts look superficially like higher plants and have stems and branches made up of giant cells. Click onto the following to see some microscopic activity in the cellular processes of stoneworts (the movies are best observed in full screen)

  • Motile sperm cells


  • Cytoplasmic streaming in Nitella


  • Cytoplasmic streaming in Chara


  • Calcification in Chara