About Caulerpa cupressoides (H.West) C.Agardh
Caulerpa cupressoides (H.West) C.Agardh has sand-covered runners that grow into thick stalks, which split into large upright branches. These upright branches are lined with rows of short, thick branchlets. The total length of the alga ranges from 2 to 25 centimetres (0.8 to 9.8 in), and it can grow with either a tall, slender habit or a short, bushy habit. It is a coenocytic species that grows well in shallow, protected areas with sandy bottoms.
This species has a widespread distribution across much of the world. In the Americas, it occurs from Florida to Brazil, including most Caribbean islands. It is found along both coasts of Africa as far south as South Africa, and on many islands in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. It also occurs across much of Asia. In Australia, it is found in Queensland, and along the Western Australian coast from the area around Perth, north through the Mid West and Pilbara coasts, and into the Kimberley region.
