Lafoea annulata Watson, 2003

Colony 70 mm high and 40 mm wide;

Hydrorhiza a broken tangled mass of tubular stolons coalescing to form polysiphonic tubes of stem; colony branched almost from base in disorderly flabellate fashion, base of stem and lowest branch 1 mm thick, both heavily fascicled, polysiphonic tubes almost linear, sometimes a little twisted in lower stem region then running up branches; distal region of some branches with 2 or more tubes, a few branches monosiphonic. Branches bent at various angles, becoming more or less straight distally; walls of ultimate branches smooth without nodes. Apical stolonisation occurring on several branches where a tube becomes free of branch, walls of free tubes contorted and undulated, sometimes rejoining branch.

Hydrothecae given off without apophyses from monosiphonic branches or from peripheral tubes of polysiphonic branches; hydrothecae in opposite pairs or in groups of three, one arising from each tube of branch, if three, the third arising close to opposite pair, forming an incipient whorl of 3, groups well separated at variable distances along branch. Hydrothecal pedicels tubular, length variable but mostly long, straight to bent, widening distally and merging smoothly into base of hydrotheca below puncta line; pedicels usually deeply annulated to almost smooth, frequently one side more deeply annulated than other. Hydrothecae rather fragile, long, tubular, slightly asymmetrically bent with one wall slightly convex in basal third, opposite wall weakly concave to straight; diaphragm very thin, transverse to slightly oblique, saucer-shaped with central hydropore marked by an indefinite double ring of small scattered punctae; a slight thickening of hydrothecal wall at puncta line. Margin of hydrotheca circular, transverse to hydrothecal axis, rim smooth, noticeably everted, many hydrothecae with up to 5 everted marginal replications, usually well separated, some well below rim.

Perisarc in polysiphonic stem region and branches quite thick, thinning in monosiphonic parts; in branches with fewer tubes, perisarc of youngest tube markedly thinner than others; perisarc of hydrothecae thin, transparent and shining.

Hydranths too poorly preserved for description; remnants emerging from many hydrothecae as a long strand of tissue.

Nematocysts large, bean-shaped, probably isorhizas, 21–22 x 8.5–9 μm, none discharged, but containing a long, probably isometric, closely coiled tubule; abundant in coenosarc of polysiphonic tubes of branches.

Colour: Colony translucent pale honey-yellow, monosiphonic branches and hydrothecae almost colourless.