This species is extremely variable in size, form, and color. In 

 the shallow water expressions it is often short-tufted and sparse, 

 whereas in deep water it forms dense beds or mats with stems as 

 much as 40 cm. long, and with long internodes. The color varies 

 from gray-green to bright green, mostly depending upon the 

 amount of lime deposited. C. vulgaris has a stronger fetid odor 

 than perhaps any of the other species in the genus. It has been 

 described as being like that of garlic ("spoiled garlic"), or as 

 skunk-like. 



This species is important as a marl-former because of the large 

 amounts of calcium carbonate which are deposited by it. In hard 

 water lake regions through central and southern Wisconsin and 

 southern Michigan it is one of the most common Chara species. 



Common in a large variety of lakes but mostly in hard water; 

 generally distributed. Mich., Wis. 



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