Sea Daisies

directions_boat This is an invasive or introduced species.

This highly variable compound ascidian can be found under rocks or on seagrass and algae. It is thinly-encrusting, forming irregular sheets that are made up of circular systems of zooids, arranged around a small central aperture. It is always free of sand, and can be found in many colours and patterns, from orange, to black to brown. Colonies resemble flowers, as its common name suggests. It can be distinguished from the many similar botrylloid species by the combination of its circular systems, encrusting form (not lobed or massive), and lack of embedded sand.