Spiral tufted bryozoa or Bugula turrita are a very common colonial marine animal found from Maine

Maine

Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...

 to North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

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Bugula neritina is of current interest as a source of cytotoxic chemicals, bryostatins, under clinical investigation as anti-cancer agents.

Dried Bugula are commonly used as decorations:

"Air fern", the so-called everlasting plant that supposedly absorbs from air all the moisture it needs to live, is commonly dried colonies of the bryozoan Bugula that have been artificially coloured.

However, note that Sertularia argentea are also sold as "air fern

Air fern

Neptune plant or Air fern is a name given to a product that is composed of a species of marine animal called Sertularia argentea, also known as the "sea fir"....

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