Cactus tree alga
Caulerpa cupressoides
(Vahl) C. Agardh, 1817
Description:
Trunk-like stalks that divide into thick, heavy, upright branches extend from sand covered runners. The length is variable, from 2-8 cm to 15-25 cm. Branches lined with long rows of short, thick, variously shaped branchlets. May be tall and slender with only a few branches, or short and bushy with numerous branches.
The plants are coenocytic, i.e., the plant is multinucleate and nonseptate.
Habitat:
Grow in shallow, protected sandy areas, often adjacent to back patch and fringing reefs.
Distribution:
South Florida, Bahamas and Caribbean.