New Record of Charophytes (Characeae, Charophyta) from Socotra Island, Indian Ocean, Yemen

The charophyte flora from Socotra Island, Indian Ocean, studied for the first time from streams waterbodies that distributed at the northern part of the Island. The recognized charophyte taxa were taxonomically investigated, and four dominant species belonging to family Characeae are identified as Chara braunii , C. globularis, C. hispida and Lamprothamnium papulosum . These taxa are reported as a new record for algal flora of Socotra Island. A brief account of the environment where the charophytes were found is provided, as a first evaluation of the ecological requirements of Indian charophytes. A taxonomically diverse of charophyte assemblage and ecological variables explain abiotic features of biotope as shallow (max 1.3 m), alkaline fresh (pH 7.5–8.4), slightly saline, and moderate eutrophic.