seaflowers

Seaflowers is a common name used to refer to a variety of sessile marine organisms, primarily cnidarians, that attach to a substrate and have a flower-like appearance. These creatures are not true plants but are animals belonging to the phylum Cnidaria, which also includes jellyfish and corals. They are characterized by a central mouth surrounded by stinging tentacles, which they use to capture small prey drifting in the water.

The term "seaflower" is most frequently applied to sea anemones, which are a diverse group of marine invertebrates. These animals can range in size from a few millimeters to over a meter in diameter and exhibit a wide spectrum of colors and patterns. Many seaflowers are found in intertidal zones, tide pools, and on the seabed in various marine environments worldwide.

Other organisms sometimes referred to as seaflowers include certain hydroids and soft corals, particularly those with prominent, colorful polyps that create a flower-like display. These colonial animals often form dense colonies on rocks, shells, and other hard surfaces. Despite their delicate appearance, the stinging cells, or nematocysts, on their tentacles can deter predators and help them secure food. Reproduction in seaflowers can be asexual, through budding or fragmentation, or sexual, involving the release of eggs and sperm into the water.