Info
Caulerpa is a genus of seaweeds in the family Caulerpaceae (among the green algae). They are unusual because they consist of only one cell with many nuclei, making them among the biggest single cells in the world. A species in the Mediterranean can have a stolon more than 3 m long, with up to 200 fronds. This species can be invasive from time to time.
Referring to its thalli's crawling habit, the name means 'stem (that) creeps', from the Ancient Greek kaulos ( ‘stalk’) and herpo (‘to creep’).
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.
Source: Marine Species Identification Portal
Synonymised names:
Caulerpa cupressoides var. typica Weber Bosse, 1898 (synonym)
Caulerpa triangularis Mazé & Schramm, 1878 (synonym)
Chauvinia cupressoides (M.Vahl) Trevisan, 1849 (synonym)
Chauvinia indica Sonder ex Kützing, 1857
Fucus cupressoides Vahl, 1802
Direct children (17):
Forma Caulerpa cupressoides f. amicorum (Harvey) Weber-van Bosse, 1898
Forma Caulerpa cupressoides f. denudata Weber Bosse, 1908
Forma Caulerpa cupressoides f. disticha Weber Bosse, 1898
Forma Caulerpa cupressoides f. gardineri Weber-van Bosse, 1908
Forma Caulerpa cupressoides f. mamillosa
Forma Caulerpa cupressoides f. nuda Weber-van Bosse, 1898
Variety Caulerpa cupressoides var. elegans (P.Crouan & H.Crouan) Børgesen, 1907
Variety Caulerpa cupressoides var. ericifolia (Turner) Weber-van Bosse, 1898
Variety Caulerpa cupressoides var. flabellata Børgesen, 1907
Variety Caulerpa cupressoides var. lycopodium Weber Bosse, 1898
Variety Caulerpa cupressoides var. mamillosa (Montagne) Weber-van Bosse, 1898
Variety Caulerpa cupressoides var. plumarioides Børgesen, 1907
Variety Caulerpa cupressoides var. serrata (Kützing) Weber-van Bosse, 1898
Variety Caulerpa cupressoides var. turneri Weber Bosse, 1898
Variety Caulerpa cupressoides var. disticha Weber-van Bosse, 1898 accepted as Caulerpa cupressoides f. disticha Weber Bosse, 1898 (synonym)
Variety Caulerpa cupressoides var. typica Weber Bosse, 1898 accepted as Caulerpa cupressoides (Vahl) C.Agardh, 1817 (synonym)
Variety Caulerpa cupressoides var. urvilleana (Montagne) L.M.Hodgson, P.H. Tri, K.Lewmanomont & K.J. McDermid, 2005 accepted as Caulerpa urvilleana Montagne, 1845