Porous Sea Rods
| Name: | Porous Sea Rods |
| Scientific Name: | Pseudoplexaura spp. |
| Family: | Sea Rods |
| Taxonomic: | Plexauridae |
| ID Group: | Corals, Algae |
| Size: | up to 7 ft. |
| Depth Range: | Various depths (0 – 130 ft.) |
| Sightings: | Seen often |
This Sea Rod grows in bushy colonies with thick branches that split into pairs. Its color can be brown, purple, or gray. The surface is covered with small, round or oval pores where the coral polyps reside. These pores lie flat and are densely packed, giving the coral its characteristic porous appearance.
Porous Sea Rods belong to the genus Pseudoplexaura and include several different species. Each colony is either male or female, and in summer, after full moons, they release eggs or sperm into the water. Some species produce natural chemicals that are being studied for potential cancer treatments.