Lafoea dumosa
Hydrorhiza reptant on host hydroids, stolons crumpled, colony predominantly stolonal but sometimes a short length of stolon becoming free as an erect monosiphonic stem.
Hydrothecae given off irregularly in all directions from hydrorhiza; hydrothecae long, elongate conical, radially symmetrical, straight to faintly sinuous, no true pedicel but a tubular narrowing of hydrotheca. A faint transverse to slightly oblique ring of scattered punctae sometimes present marking distal junction of pseudopedicel with hydrotheca, sometimes a faint constriction in perisarc of hydrotheca at desmocyte ring. Margin transverse to hydrothecal axis, circular, rim weakly everted with up to seven, usually widely spaced, regenerations. Perisarc of hydrotheca moderately thick near base, thinning distally to margin.
Hydranths not well preserved, deeply contracted into hydrothecae, but probably with eight to 10 tentacles.
Coppinia comprising a tightly packed circle of gonothecae seated on a thin, dish-shaped basal plate adherent to stem of hydroid host; protective nematophore tubules scattered in irregular groups around and throughout coppinia.
Gonothecae small, crowded, flask-shaped, bases rounded, widening from base to shoulder, surmounted by a short tubular neck with transverse, slightly everted circular orifice; perisarc of gonothecae rather thin. Ovoid gonophores (or planulae) present in some gonothecae but too degenerate for description. Protective tubules varying in length from short to very long, tubular in section, single or bifid, some completely or partially conjoined proximally, straight or curved, narrowing from base to apex; terminal orifice circular; perisarc thick, usually smooth; some undulated; others showing scars from interruptions to growth.
Colour: Colonies and coppiniae transparent colourless; gonophores pale creamy white.
Near cosmopolitan- Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic and Antarctic.
Subtidal, epizoic on hydroids and gorgonians.